Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I haven't met either of my friend Ben's mums, but this week I've been thinking about them a lot as I've heard that not having their relationship recognised at in law as a marriage has had awful practical and emotional consequences in dealing with doctors and with systems that see marriage as it is presently constructed at law as something that excludes them. This unthinking callousness that they have been experiencing is diminishing us all. So I've thought about how casually those of us with privileges too often enjoy them and how little consideration we give when we get to call our partner 'wife' or 'husband' and get to have this recognised for the meaning that we together have chosen to give it.

What sort of person would choose to deny another this or fail to consider what it means for their families and compound this by causing an opinion poll in place of simply righting a self-evident wrong? I am filled with dread about this survey borne of weakness and cynicism, which trades human rights for political convenience and is heedless of its effects on so many of us. For these wonderful women, who have spent so many years together, and their family, and for every LGBTI Australian and everyone who cares about them, I am resolved, along with all of my colleagues, to do all that I can do to show that Australians recognise that love is love and ensure that we in this place make a law for equal marriage.