Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister, and it refers to his previous answer. If public funding is a matter for cabinet, why then did the Prime Minister secretly promise marriage equality opponents millions of taxpayer dollars to campaign against equality?

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

I thank the honourable member for her question. The position is exactly as I stated it in the previous answer. Any funding provided will be provided absolutely scrupulously equally. We want to ensure—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The honourable member and I, I gather, will vote the same way in the plebiscite. We would both vote yes for same sex marriage.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs!

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

I understand that. But I will tell you this: my commitment is to ensure that the plebiscite is utterly fair, scrupulously fair. We want every Australian to have their say and we want them to do so with a fair question and a fair process so that, at the end of the day, whichever side is unsuccessful will nonetheless be able to say: 'We had a fair go. It was fair contest, a fair question, a fair process. The Australian people spoke. They made a decision, and we the parliament then respect it and the Australian nation will respect it.' That is my commitment.

Mr Dreyfus interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Isaacs I cautioned during that answer. I could not have made it more clear. He is now warned.