Senator RICE (Victoria) (14:22): My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Minister Abetz. A 62-year-old caller to ABC radio, Gerard from Drouin in Victoria, called in this morning, distressed that he might not get to commit to his long-term male partner through marriage before it is too late. Now that the coalition have denied their members a free vote, what do you say to Gerard, his partner and the thousands of loving couples in similar situations around Australia?
In this debate Butler, Terri, MP Abbott, Tony, MP Gambaro, Teresa, MP Abbott, Tony, MP Shorten, Bill, MP Abbott, Tony, MP Howarth, Luke, MP Hunt, Greg, MP Shorten, Bill, MP Abbott, Tony, MP Palmer, Clive, MP Landry, Michelle, MP Truss, Warren, MP Bowen, Chris, MP Abbott, Tony, MP Van Manen, Bert, MP Hockey, Joe, MP Burke, Tony, MP Abbott, Tony, MP Varvaris, Nickolas, MP Hockey, Joe, MP Shorten, Bill, MP Abbott, Tony, MP O'Dowd, Ken, MP Joyce, Barnaby, MP Plibersek, Tanya, MP Abbott, Tony, MP Gillespie, David, MP Ley, Sussan, MP Butler, Mark, MP Abbott, Tony, MP Wilson, Rick, MP Frydenberg, Josh, MP Carr, Sen Kim Ronaldson, Sen Michael Carr, Sen Kim Ronaldson, Sen Michael Carr, Sen Kim Ronaldson, Sen Michael Lindgren, Sen Joanna Abetz, Sen Eric Lindgren, Sen Joanna Abetz, Sen Eric Lindgren, Sen Joanna Abetz, Sen Eric Wong, Sen Penny Abetz, Sen Eric Wong, Sen Penny Abetz, Sen Eric Wong, Sen Penny Abetz, Sen Eric Abetz, Sen Eric Rice, Sen Janet Abetz, Sen Eric Rice, Sen Janet Abetz, Sen Eric Bernardi, Sen Cory Birmingham, Sen Simon Bernardi, Sen Cory Birmingham, Sen Simon Bernardi, Sen Cory Birmingham, Sen Simon Wang, Sen Zhenya Ronaldson, Sen Michael Wang, Sen Zhenya Ronaldson, Sen Michael Wang, Sen Zhenya Ronaldson, Sen Michael Edwards, Sen Sean Fifield, Sen Mitch Edwards, Sen Sean Fifield, Sen Mitch Edwards, Sen Sean Fifield, Sen Mitch Day, Sen Bob Birmingham, Sen Simon Day, Sen Bob Birmingham, Sen Simon Day, Sen Bob Birmingham, Sen Simon Bilyk, Sen Catryna Abetz, Sen Eric Bilyk, Sen Catryna Abetz, Sen Eric Bilyk, Sen Catryna Abetz, Sen Eric McKenzie, Sen Bridget Cash, Sen Michaelia McKenzie, Sen Bridget Cash, Sen Michaelia McKenzie, Sen Bridget Cash, Sen Michaelia