Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

The government's position on this has been very clear and consistent for some time. I have made the point in the Senate before, and indeed others have, that we will be releasing the Ruddock review at the same time as we release the government's response to it. Let me just make this very important point. These are obviously sensitive issues in the community, and on our side of parliament we want to bring Australians together. We don't want to turn Australian against Australian. What I would put to you is: let's deal now with the issue we all agree on. We all agree that there should be no discrimination in relation to students from religious non-state schools on the basis of their sexuality. Let's deal with that and let's go through a proper process to ensure that we land on an appropriately balanced position that brings the community together rather than turning Australian against Australian. (Time expired)