Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. Does the Prime Minister stand by his statement that he:

… will not lead a party that is not as committed to effective action on climate change as I am.

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

Given that the Prime Minister now leads the government, it stands to reason that he leads a government that is as committed as he is to the issue of climate change.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. As a marriage equality supporter, will the Prime Minister continue to support the previous Prime Minister's decision to delay a parliamentary vote until after the next election?

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

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

Order! I do not need any assistance, Senator Macdonald. Senator Gallagher, that was not directly relevant or supplementary to the primary question. But I will allow the minister, if he wishes, to answer any part of that.

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

As you have quite rightly indicated, it is absolutely not a supplementary question. Regrettably, the senator has been fed a grab bag of things to throw across the chamber without analysing them carefully. I say to the former Chief Minister of the ACT: you do not have to ask these questions that are served up to you by the likes of Senator Conroy.

In relation to the specific issue, the government's position remains as announced.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. As a republican, will the Prime Minister retain the previous Prime Minister's support for a constitutional monarchy, and will he be retaining knights and dames?

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

Again, Senator Gallagher, that does not fit as a supplementary question. However, I will invite the minister, if he wishes, to answer that question.

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

As the Australian people well know, the former Prime Minister is a staunch monarchist. I think the Australian people know that the new Prime Minister is a staunch republican. We in the Liberal Party allow sufficient latitude to house both views.

On the former question from the honourable senator, I also indicate that we will not be denying conscience votes to our colleagues after 2016 or 2019, when the Labor Party is going to turn off the tap on conscience votes. It is the Labor Party that will be denying their colleagues a free vote. (Time expired)