SENATOR PENNY WONG, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE: I want to talk first about Marriage Equality. As you know the Labor Party made a decision yesterday to oppose the plebiscite legislation and we did so for the reasons we have articulated. We think it is a divisive process. We think it is a licence for hate speech. We know it is non-binding, we know the hard right will never countenance equality. But I think whats important now is to look ahead, and what I would say to the moderates is this, it is not sustainable for you to believe that this issue can simply hang about for the next couple of years, if that is how long this Government lasts. It is not sustainable to believe that Malcolm Turnbull can continue to demand of the entire Liberal Party room, some of whom support Marriage Equality, that people will continue to vote, not to have a vote, because thats what were talking about.

Once the Government loses this plebiscite legislation as we anticipate it will, the Governments position for the moment is were going to keep voting for the next two years not to have a vote. That is not sustainable. And I would remind the Liberal Party Room, and those people who say they support Marriage Equality, of the words of then Prime Minister Abbott, after the six hour party room, where the moderates got rolled where he said, and I quote I believe this is thepartyroomview, that this is the last term in which the CoalitionPartyRoomcan be bound. This is the last term in which the Coalitionpartyroomcan be bound. Thats what Tony Abbott said before the last election. So the position the then Liberal Leader, the then Liberal Prime Minister stated was that there would not be a binding vote this term.

So I would say to the moderates youve got an opportunity. The plebiscite was a bad idea. It was always a deal with the hard right of the Liberals and the National Party. It doesnt have the support of the Parliament. Well, what you should do is take Tony Abbott at his word and not be bound to vote against a vote for the next two years. Because the Australian people expect better. The Australian people expect the Parliament to do what weve been doing since Federation, which is, we vote on Legislation.

JOURNALIST: So is the tactic then to continually introduce Same Sex Marriage Bills for the next three years?

WONG: First, on the broader issue, I think the community will keep the pressure on. I think the community have moved. In the period I have been in this Parliament I have seen an enormous shift in the Australian community and it has been heart-warming. So I dont think the community are going to accept people continuing to vote not to have a vote.

But, Im happy to talk about tactics, and I want to say this: any Liberal Senator who is prepared to move a Marriage Equality Bill, Im up for it. If you want to co-sponsor a Bill with me, in the Senate, Im up for it.

JOURNALIST: What do you make of the Liberals continuing to say that the plebiscite is not dead, considering you voted against it yesterday?

WONG: Well, Ive been in Government and I know when youve only got a Plan A, and you havent worked out what you want to say about your Plan B, thats what you say. So, I figure theyre going to keep saying that. The Labor Party position is pretty clear. Nick Xenophon has made his position clear. Derryn Hinch has made his position clear. So I think we know where we are and at some point the Liberal Party are going to have to deal with a Plan B.

And, Id say this again, I understand that there are different views inside the Coalition. But Id say to those inside the Coalition who are supportive of equality, you cannot negotiate with the hard right. You cant negotiate with prejudice. And these people will never countenance equality. It doesnt matter what deal you do with them, it doesnt matter what compromise. We saw this week, where George Brandis releases an Exposure Draft of the so-called Government position on the Marriage Equality Bill, and immediately who comes out and says its not our position is Eric Abetz. The reality is these people inside the Liberal Party who are opposed to Marriage Equality cannot be negotiated with and the sooner the Prime Minister understands that, the sooner he will look like a Prime Minister.

JOURNALIST: Is there much point in introducing legislation, or bills in the Senate, when you know, when it gets to the House, its not going to move anywhere?

WONG: Lets get it through a Chamber of the Parliament and see what happens. Because, as I said, continuing to ask people inside the Liberal Party who support Marriage Equality to vote against having a vote is not a sustainable a position.

JOURNALIST: Is that Senator that youre reaching out to cross the divide, is it Dean Smith from WA?

WONG: I suspect me naming someone inside the Liberal Party is probably not the most tactical way forward. I just put that out there.