Robert Simms (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Dastyari is screaming at me, 'One hour.' Does he actually genuinely think this issue has only been debated for one hour? We have seen discussion here in this chamber. We have seen this bill debated as recently as November. We have seen it debated in the previous parliament. We have seen it discussed and debated in our community for decades. Well, it is time for some action. The Greens support the Labor Party in wanting to see a resolution on it. We have private senators' time today. Let us bring it to a vote; let us bring it on and let us deal with it.

Can I just say to the ALP and to Senator Leyonhjelm, please stop using this issue as a cheap political wedge.

Honourable senators interjecting—

I am being heckled here, but, genuinely, please stop using this issue in such a cheap and cynical way. It is actually people's lives you are stuffing around with here. The community has a right to see this issue resolved and treated seriously. It should not be used as a wedge tactic to try to derail voting reform. And let's face it: that is what you are really about. If you genuinely cared about this issue, you would have approached it in a much more ethical way.

We have some time available today in private senators' time. Let us deal with it then and let us have a vote. We can resolve the matter. We welcome the opportunity to do that. The Greens have a proud record on this reform. I want to say to anybody who is listening to this, and I want to say to those in the Labor Party in particular: we will not be lectured by you mob on standing up for equality. I hear that you have been doing phone banking in my state, saying that we have been voting against marriage equality. That is a complete and utter lie and it demonstrates what this tactic is about. What you are trying to do here is to use this issue as a wedge. You are playing with the lives of people in my community. I think it is reprehensible and I think you should be ashamed of yourselves. We have an opportunity in private senators' time. Let us end the delay and have a vote. Let us not see this being used as an opportunity to try to derail voting reform. It is so obvious you are desperate to do whatever it takes to prevent this reform. If is not marriage equality, it is coal seam gas or an issue of workers' rights. There is nothing you will not do to try to stop this reform. You even voted to bring on the ABCC. You are utterly shameless and hypocritical, so give us a break and let us have a vote.