George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much for the question, Senator Hinch. I'm glad you've raised the question of the postal survey because, on any view, the postal survey has been an outstanding success. I want to take the opportunity you afford me, Senator Hinch, to congratulate my colleague Senator Mathias Cormann, who was the Acting Special Minister of State at the time the postal survey was conducted, had superintendence of it and did a magnificent job. We will find that 80 per cent or so of the Australian electorate has participated. As the government said at the time: whether you favour reform of the Marriage Act or whether you want to maintain the status quo, the important thing was that people should have their say—and they have had their say in droves. I don't want to anticipate what the result will be when it's announced at 10 am tomorrow because the government has been very, very careful to respect the process.

Senator Hinch, you ask about two private senators' bills that have been foreshadowed by my colleagues Senator Smith and Senator Paterson. What the Prime Minister has always said and what I've always said is that, in the event that there were to be a 'yes' vote, then the government would facilitate a parliamentary debate on a private member's bill—or perhaps it will be a private senator's bill. That will be a matter for the private members or senators concerned and a matter for the chamber.