SENATOR PENNY WONG, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE: Thanks very much for coming. I wanted to briefly talk about some of the commentary weve seen on the issue of marriage equality, today and in recent days, from the conservatives inside the Liberal Party. Tony Abbott said to Australia that what we needed when it comes to marriage equality is a debate that was civil, and a debate that was characterised by bipartisanship. He said lets have a bipartisan and civil debate.
What weve seen inside the Liberal Party today and over the last few days is more partisanship, more nastiness and more division. And what I would say is this: the open warfare inside the Liberal Party has the potential to damage the cause of equality that so many Australians care about. Tony Abbott - its time to step up, do what you said youd do, take this to the party room and grant a free vote. Because the open warfare between your MPs and Senators when it comes to marriage equality is damaging to the cause of equality. Happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: Did Labor misstep though? Would it have been better to wait for a bipartisan-
WONG: We have been waiting a long time for bipartisanship. Tanya Plibersek wrote to all MPs on the other side, some 14 months ago, and said here is my bill, co-sponsor it with me and well take it forward together. No one stepped up. I think the Australian people are tired of waiting for the Liberal Party to do the right thing. Its time Tony Abbott did the right thing and ended the open warfare inside his party and granted a free vote.
JOURNALIST: Have you damaged the chances of a conscience vote?
WONG: I think whats damaging the cause of equality at the moment is division inside the Liberal Party. And some pretty nasty personal attacks from some members of the Coalition who are still living in the past and I think Tony Abbott has really got to deal with it.
JOURNALIST: I was just going to say, Joe Hockeys comments about housing affordability.
WONG: Id make a couple of comments about Joes statements today. First, I think Joe Hockey is the only person in Australia who thinks theres no issue with housing affordability. And the second is this, the Treasurers only response is to lecture Australians about getting a better job. I think this is up there with poor people dont drive cars in terms of an out of touch comment from an out of touch Treasurer. The fact is Australians are doing it tough, theyre doing the best they can and they dont need a lecture from Joe Hockey about getting a better job.
JOURNALIST: Is the Government right to keep targeting housing supply as a way to improve affordability?
WONG: There are a number of issues when it comes to housing affordability and were going through a process of considering those issues. But what we wont do is to simply lecture people, as the Treasurer has, telling them to get a better job, at a time, lets remember, under this Government weve seen unemployment going up.