Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Can the minister confirm that the government's approach to marriage equality was not considered by the cabinet before it was discussed in the joint party room last night? What sort of Prime Minister branch stacks against his cabinet? And what happened to good government?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! On both sides. Order!

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We will always accept that Senator Wong and the Labor Party have the expertise when it comes to branch stacking. How in any way that could relate—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Pause the clock.

Honourable senators interjecting —

On my left and my right! If everyone is all done, I will call the minister.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not know what the honourable senator means by the suggestion of branch stacking in circumstances—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock. Senator Wong, a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, just to assist the Leader of the Government. I am quoting the Leader of the House—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order, Senator Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the House in his own party room.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order.

Honourable senators interjecting—

On both sides! On my right! On my left! It's going to take a long time to get through your questions today.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I understand the situation, a branch stack is allowing every single man and woman that was elected to this parliament under the coalition banner to speak in the party room in circumstances when the Prime Minister, four days out from the election, said that this would be a decision made by not the cabinet but the coalition party room when the issue arose. The issue arose, the coalition party room discussed the matter and every single man and woman in that party room that wanted to have a say was actually given a say. This is supposed to be, and I would welcome, an informed debate, but the shouting, the catcalling and the behaviour of those on the other side who would deny their colleagues the opportunity to vote as they would like stands, I must say, in stark contradistinction to what we in the coalition party room do, and that is—

Senator Wong interjecting—

And the leader interjects and says we had a six-hour debate, which of course debunks the assertion that somehow a Prime Minister— (Time expired)

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. When did the Prime Minister first discuss with this minister his plan to bypass cabinet and take marriage equality to a joint party room, and when did the Prime Minister first raise this tactic with the Leader of the House?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Four days before the last election the Prime Minister said not only to me and not only to the leader of the government in the other place but to all the Australian people—four days before the election—that this would be dealt with by the coalition party room. So why on earth would the Prime Minister need to then reventilate this issue when our position was absolutely clear and made clear to the Australian people four days before the last election. I do not know why Senator Wong wants to concentrate on this issue rather than creating jobs, ensuring the future of our nation, celebrating the Medical Research Future Fund and things of that nature. We are getting on with the business of government whilst also ensuring—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just hope everybody watching sees the tolerance of the Leader of the Opposition in this debate. (Time expired)

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister advise if government policy on marriage equality is: (a) the status quo (b) a free vote after the next election (c) a plebiscite or (d) a referendum?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister made it very clear, as indeed did the party room, that for the term of this government the status quo should remain. The reason for that is that that was our policy before the last election and we intend to stand by our election commitments. What the Prime Minister has also said is that if that position changes we will take a position to the next election. And I would once again ask, if we are to have a proper debate in this nation about changing the social structure of marriage, that it should be an informed and tolerant debate and not the sort of shouting and shrill interjections that we get from people right across the Labor Party.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You have not been called yet, Senator Bernardi. Were you taking a point of order?

Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. I have a question.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Bernardi, I have not called you yet. I am about to call Senator Rice.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Do you need help from the National Party with your question, Cory!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Conroy, you have been most disruptive this question time. Could I please ask you to desist.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think there have been plenty of others.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There have been, but you have been very disruptive.