Page 2652 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 10 August 2016
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All of my members are free to express their views because this is a federal issue. This is Jeremy Hanson’s view and every Australian I’m sure has their view and they’d be entitled to express it.
Mr Hanson made mention of the fact that people are free to express positions. He has declared his position on this. He has spoken for you, Madam Assistant Speaker. So I would say that on this day, the very last private members’ business day of this parliamentary term, Mr Hanson should allow that free vote. Mr Hanson should allow the members of the Canberra Liberals to express their own view on the motion that is in front of them today and his amendment.
I call on Mr Hanson to allow you, Madam Assistant Speaker, and the others over there to actually say yes when the division is called—and it will come—and support the motion that is before us. But Mr Hanson will not let you do that. Mr Hanson will demand that all those on that side, all those in the Canberra Liberals, support his amendment, which is a gutless amendment with no leadership, no respect and no regard.
He is going to say to you that you are not allowed to support this government’s being very clear in its leadership to support this discussion. He will not let you. I would say, “Let’s cut loose on the last private members’ day in this parliament and say everyone is allowed to have a free vote. Vote for my motion as it is in the notice paper or vote for Mr Hanson’s amendment.”
There is a challenge of leadership, Mr Hanson. There is a challenge for you, given that you have spent some time in your remarks today, as have others, saying that this is a matter of free choice. Then you, Madam Assistant Speaker, would have the opportunity today to express your free choice.
Let us go to the motion that is actually before us. It states:
That:
(1) this Assembly:
(a) reaffirms its support for marriage equality;
(b) supports a free, positive and respectful discussion on marriage equality in the Canberra community;
(c) confirms its position that marriage equality is best achieved through a free vote of all Federal members and senators; and
(d) notes that a national plebiscite on marriage equality remains the currently policy of the Liberal National Party Coalition, and consequently may be the only way to achieve marriage equality in this Federal parliamentary term …
Perhaps that is what Mr Hanson does not like. It notes that:
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