Andrew Bragg (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to pay tribute to the outgoing chair of Equality Australia, Mr Tom Snow. Very few people have a material impact on a massive social reform like marriage equality, but Mr Tom Snow is one such person. He made an outsized contribution to the delivery of a very important and critical reform in our country, which we're all proud of.

Tom was a founding chair of Equality Australia, which has done enormously good work in engaging on behalf of the LGBTQI community over the last few years—often in very difficult and challenging circumstances. Tom has always held himself with grace and dignity, even in the most challenging circumstances, and I want to pay tribute to his personal qualities of being a great organiser and a great campaigner, while also a very compassionate and decent person who has held himself in such grace.

Tom, just this week, has been able to avail himself of these new laws. He's married his partner, Doug, in front of his children, and that is a wonderful thing that has happened. This was a reform delivered by many people, and I want to pay tribute to a number of people who are here today in the chamber: Senator Dean Smith, who of course authored the bill, and Senators Pratt and Rice, who were all part of this magnificent change which has made our country so much richer.

Stephen, who is Tom's brother, is here today. Thank you for being here. We're all so proud of you, Tom. Go well, and thank you for all you've done for Australia.