Mr ABBOTT (Warringah—Prime Minister) (14:15): As is well known, when I was asked about this prior to the election, I said that if this matter— Ms Plibersek interjecting— The SPEAKER: The member for Sydney will cease interjecting. Mr ABBOTT: The government have exactly done what we said we would do before the election. Before the election, I said that if this matter was to come up in this parliament it would be dealt with by the coalition party room in the usual way. I said before the election on a number of occasions that if this matter was to come up in this parliament it would be dealt with by the coalition party room in the usual way. I have got to say that it was dealt with by the coalition party room in a very decent and respectful way over six hours yesterday. Mr Albanese: Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order: the Prime Minister said at this dispatch box it was a matter for this parliament. The SPEAKER: That is not a point of order. Mr ABBOTT: This matter was discussed by our party room in a very decent and respectful way for fully six hours yesterday; some 90 members of the party room had their say. By a very strong majority, essentially by two to one, we decided to confirm our existing position for this term of parliament, the position that we took to the election, that marriage is between a man and a woman. Our strong disposition is to go into the next election with a commitment to put this to the people. That is our disposition. Our strong disposition going into the next election is to put this to the people. Going into the next election there will be two parties with very different positions. Members opposite will want the politicians to decide. This government wants the people to decide. Over there they want the politicians' choice. Over here we want the people's choice, and what could be fairer than leaving this to the people of Australia?