Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

long before 'we' sniffed the political breeze and thought, 'Yeah, we can support this,' we supported it when we knew it was right. And that is why every single MP, every time, in any state parliament, and in every federal parliament, of the Australian Greens have voted for marriage equality.

We are so committed to this issue—as, clearly, is the Australian Labor Party—that we are proposing to the Australian Labor Party that we, on Thursday, during private senators' time, back in this reform. If this is just crocodile tears, if this is some political tactic, if this is simply some opportunity to play wedge politics with an issue as serious as ending prejudice in marriage once and for all, then the Australian Labor Party will support ensuring that we bring in this debate on Thursday during private senators' time—during their private senators' time. If this is not just some political tactic in an effort to overturn a democratic reform—incidentally a reform that they have supported for many years, and, in fact, that many of their own side continue to support—then we will support any endeavour from the Australian Labor Party to bring this on for a vote.

In fact, we will go further. You have our unconditional support right now, this afternoon, to ensure that, when we vote for the piece of legislation that we will be debating on Thursday, marriage equality takes precedence over everything else. The decision is now yours, Senator Wong, Senator Dastyari and Senator Cameron—