Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis. I refer to the Attorney-General's statement:

We will be going to the election promising a plebiscite before the end of the year.

Does the Attorney-General stand by that statement?

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

Senator Brown, we are committed to having a plebiscite. We are committed to having this issue resolved by a plebiscite. And I might say, Senator, that that is the wish of the Australian people. You may or may not have seen an Essential poll which was published today which shows that 66 per cent of the Australian people agree with us that this matter ought to be decided by a plebiscite. That is the case across every voter group, by the way—in fact, slightly more Labor Party supporters than coalition supporters favour the resolution of the matter by plebiscite: 68 per cent of Labor supporters and 67 per cent of coalition supporters. So, Senator Brown, we will be having a plebiscite. We will be having one as soon as possible after the election.

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Is the Treasurer right, Senator Brandis, to say that voting will be compulsory in a plebiscite on marriage equality?

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

This is a decision that all Australians should participate in.

Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a second supplementary question. When will the government release its plan for a plebiscite on marriage equality? Will it be released before the election?

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

As I thought I made clear to you, Senator Brown, we will be going to the election promising a plebiscite, a plebiscite that will be happening as soon as possible after the election, so that all Australians can have their say.