Marriage Equality

Ms COOK (Fisher) (15:26): I rise today to discuss a matter of great importance to me and to many on this side of the house, and indeed on both sides of the house, as well as to many, many South Australians, and that is marriage equality. I do not want to suggest that I approve of or support the expensive and unnecessary bandaid approach to social policy reform that is currently being undertaken by the Prime Minister and his conservative puppeteers in Canberra. Labor rejected the idea of a national plebiscite and we reject still the idea of a national voluntary, non-binding postal survey.

The people of South Australia elect their federal and state representatives to scrutinise and legislate on their behalf, to take the temperature of their respective electorates and to make their constituents' views known in their advocacy for issues both in this place and in our communities. To suggest that a postal survey is best practice in introducing long overdue social change, as the Prime Minister has done by sending us all down this path, is an abject failure of both political and moral leadership. Nevertheless, we are where we are.

Given these circumstances, there is only one thing people like me, many in this chamber and certainly many in my electorate can do, and that is to win the survey and to continue to apply pressure to conservative members of the Turnbull government who have already intimated that a resounding yes result will not sway their vote in the house, so nothing yet is certain.

While I may strongly refute the need for such a mechanism, I have been busy fighting hard to ensure that a strong yes vote is returned here in South Australia and indeed right across the country. I was thrilled to join many from the house, the other place and thousands of South Australians on the steps of this building on Saturday 16 September to send a loud and emphatic message that South Australians support marriage equality and the right of any two consenting adults of sound mind, regardless of their gender, to enjoy the institution of marriage, as any opposite-sex couple currently do.

When my husband and I received our postal ballots in the mail, we hurriedly gave the yes column a big tick before popping them straight back into the post in the prepaid envelope to be counted by the ABS. For anyone listening at home, there is a video of my husband, Neil, and I doing just that—putting it in the post—and that can be found on my Facebook page. I have also received a great deal of positive feedback from many in my local community regarding their support for marriage equality.

I am heartened that throughout this campaign I have spoken with a broad range of South Australians of many ages, races and social circumstances, the majority of whom have expressed their support to me. That is not to demonise people I represent who will be voting no in the postal survey either. I completely respect everybody's right to say no. I understand their own deeply spiritual and personal rejection of this issue that they hold, but I welcome the opportunity to discuss with any of my electors my reasons for voting yes and ask for their understanding as to why I believe this very important cause, on behalf of me, my electorate and all South Australians, is worth fighting for.

I would also like to quickly make mention of those members of our community who are same-sex attracted and who are likely feeling persecuted, confused and isolated throughout this affair. Labor hears you. We hear you, and we are fighting for you. People such as you have endured a torrent of hate throughout this campaign, a torrent of lies throughout this campaign, but this is not who you are and this is not your place in our community.

To every gay man or woman across South Australia, to every de facto gay couple longing to get married, to the hopeful young couple with an eye to marriage one day, to every confused young person who may be feeling disillusioned at school or home after such a public and forensic debate of your personal choices, Labor is fighting and will always fight for you. There is still a while to go in this survey, and I would encourage everyone in the electorate of Fisher, and indeed right across the state, to vote yes in the postal survey. Give these vulnerable people in our community the voice they deserve.

Return the ballot paper as soon as possible in the reply-paid envelope and ensure that the voice is heard in helping to bring about this long overdue and important social reform. If you have never even received your ballot paper or you have lost it and require a replacement, please google 'marriage equality ABS' and follow the links, but replacement forms must be requested by this Friday, 20 October. I also take the opportunity to thank my friends in the community who are in same-sex and loving relationships who do such a great job of raising their children and supporting me. Let's get this done and vote yes.