Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I have great confidence in the good sense of the Australian people. Are we seriously at the point where the Labor Party has so little confidence in Australians that they would shut down a right to vote because people have said things they find outrageous or unacceptable, or that are regarded as unacceptable by the vast majority of Australians?

In any debate there will be statements made which are offensive, which many will regard as extreme, which many will regard as wrong. In this debate I will be encouraging Australians to vote yes. Others will encourage them to vote no. I urge every participant in the debate to act with responsibility and with respect for those on the other side. How they act is a matter for them; and they will be judged by Australians, as will their arguments.

If we are seriously at the point where the Labor Party is saying you cannot have a vote on this issue in particular because people will say outrageous things then how could we have a referendum on any of the issues that have been discussed? How could you have a parliamentary election? 'You can't have a parliamentary election,' they'll be saying next, 'because who knows? Some candidate will say something outrageous or someone will say something outrageous, unfair, cruel and wrong about a candidate.' Australians can see through all of that.

The Labor Party is disrespecting and underestimating the wisdom of the Australian people. We put our faith in them. We will give every Australian a say on this issue as we promised them in the election. The Labor Party could have voted today to enable a compulsory attendance ballot. They have refused to do that because they don't trust the Australian people. We will give everyone a vote.

Ms Plibersek interjecting—

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