Matters of Interest

Marriage Equality

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:22): Today I rise to speak about events that have occurred recently that made me incredibly proud. First, in February my wife and I became grandparents and then in March grandparents again. It was a wonderful and blessed time for our family, albeit a little busier. We now have two grandsons vying for our attention, which is a splendid feeling. Then only a few weeks later my wife and I attended the wedding of our daughter to the love of her life. It was a perfect day, a sunny afternoon, lots of loving emotion, lots of fun, lots of laughing and dancing: I could not be more proud. I am so pleased to see both of my children enter the next stage of their lives and having children of their own, and I was so happy to see my daughter marry her soulmate, the love of her life. I have no doubt that they will enjoy a life just as happy as I have with my wife of over 40 years.

However, despite the amazing, overwhelming joy of these recent events, they remain shaded with a tinge of sadness. You see, my daughter's marriage is not recognised under Australian law. Similarly, in South Australia, as the current law stands, she would not have been able to have received IVF treatment here because our current Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act discriminates against same sex couples. Those two realities are shameful. State and federal legislatures should hang their heads in shame.

I have now seen both my children on their wedding days. I have seen both have children of their own. I can tell you that, from a very personal point of view, there is no skerrick of difference between the legitimacy of either. My son has a beautiful wife, they love each other no more and are committed to each other no more than are my daughter and her wife. They love their son no more than does my daughter and her wife love theirs.

As grandparents we love them no more or less. It is time our laws changed to recognise love of all kinds, just as the vast majority of Australians do. I am also still wondering about the intent of the federal coalition on the issue of marriage equality. Yes, they have committed to a plebiscite on the issue if they win the upcoming federal election. If they do, supposedly the plebiscite will occur by the end of this year, but it is interesting to note that they still have not detailed exactly what question will be put to the Australian voters. I ask, 'Why?'

For those members of the South Australian Liberal Party, I ask them to push their federal colleagues to seek this answer and to make it available sooner rather than later. I also understand that some advocates for a 'No' vote on same-sex marriage, such as the South Australian Christian lobby, are calling on the federal coalition to override antidiscrimination laws during any possible future plebiscite campaign. I ask those opposite again to lobby their federal colleagues against such a move. It would be highly destructive and socially divisive. As I have said in this place before, a child can be loved and nurtured by a mum and a dad; a mum; a dad; two mums or two dads. It appears that much of the discussion about parenting is about the sexuality of the parent, or parents, when, in reality, the issue should be about children being loved, cherished and nourished.

It is time for this place and our federal parliament to treat all citizens equally and remove the obvious discrimination that still occurs within our laws, to ensure that all citizens, no matter their sexuality, gender, race or religion, are seen as equals before the law, and I trust that members of all political persuasions will work with me to see this happen.