Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

What I said was, and I will say it again, that we consider that Senator Murray’s amendment is not necessary because the law already defines who is a spouse, which includes de facto or otherwise. It is open to interpretation that it also includes same-sex partners. That is a matter of interpretation of the existing law and we think that that particular situation is covered.