Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that general business notice of motion No. 930, relating to the Don't Mess with Marriagebooklet, standing in my name and in the names of Senators Day, Leyonhjelm, Madigan and Wang be taken as formal.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there any objection to this motion being taken as formal?

An honourable senator: Yes.

There is an objection.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement on the motion.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The motion proposed to be moved by Senator Abetz deals with a matter before the Tasmanian Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner. It is simply not appropriate for the Senate to determine a position on this matter at this time.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a one-minute statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a very simple motion, and the fact that the Greens and the Labor Party have sought to deny formality on this matter speaks volumes—that those who always hector us about tolerance show the most extreme intolerance. And I say this as a non-Catholic; I am not a Catholic. When the Catholic Church develops a booklet to teach its flock about its beliefs and teaching on marriage and they are then shut down by organisations within the Australian community, it is vital that there be an expression from this Senate about the right of freedom of speech and the right to express certain views. The fact that the Labor Party and the Greens have combined today to deny formality on this fundamental principle of free speech, expressing no view on the document, shows where they really stand.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a brief statement.

Leave not granted.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

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

The Australian Greens support free speech in this country, but we recognise that freedom of speech is a limited concept in any democracy and does not extend to the right to be a bigot, as Senator Abetz would have us believe—and I know he is a champion of the right to be a bigot. We believe that the rights to express a view should be balanced against the rights of members of our community to feel safe and secure from persecution and discrimination. That is why we will not support the motion being put forward today. As the Labor Party has identified, it is subject to antidiscrimination action as well and therefore not appropriate for this place to consider.