Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Griffith is one of Australia's leading electorates when measured by the number of same-sex couples. We have a high proportion of same-sex couples. I am very pleased to stand here, as I have before, to say it is time for marriage equality in this country. We know this because a number of outlets, including Matt Akersten in Same Same, on Monday reported that a new survey by Crosby Textor has shown that support among Australians for marriage equality is at an all-time high, with 72 per cent of people wanting marriage equality to be legal and 77 per cent of people wanting coalition MPs to be given a free vote when it comes to marriage equality. As Patricia Karvelas said today in The Australian, it is only a matter of time before coalition MPs are given that free vote.

On behalf of all of the same-sex couples who would like to get married—those with children, those without children, those who want to get married but cannot because this parliament is standing in their way—I implore the Prime Minister to please give your MPs a free vote on marriage equality. It is time to give your MPs a free vote on marriage equality so that they in turn can vote to give effect to the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Australians. Your own pollsters are telling you this. I am asking you Prime Minister to please give your coalition MPs a free vote on marriage equality.