CARRIE BICKMORE: Senator Penny Wong joins us from Canberra. Senator, with Nick Xenophon's announcement, it all comes down to Labor - are you going to nix the plebiscite?
SENATOR PENNY WONG, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE: We've got real concerns about our plebiscite. What is being proposed is something that's extensive, divisive and non-binding. Remember that the Conservatives in the Coalition have made clear that even if the plebiscite were to succeed, they wouldn't vote for Marriage Equality anyway. We have Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister of the country, leader of the Liberal Party should have the courage of his convictions and he should allow a free vote which would mean we would see have Marriage Equality within a few weeks.
BICKMORE: But Senator the free vote isnt on the table. Isn't a plebiscite better than nothing?
WONG: Who can change that, Carrie? The Prime Minister can change that
BICKMORE: The Prime Minister has said he's going to be doing a plebiscite. If that's the option, isn't that better though than waiting another three years?
WONG: I don't accept that that's the case. I think that, over the time I've been in Parliament, over the time I've been engaged on this issue, we've seen politicians shift, in part, you know, in their own journey talking to people, but also because the population has shifted, the community has shifted. I reckon we should keep the pressure on for a free vote. That's what we're elected to do.
STEVE PRICE: But what about the election? We had an election, and the Coalition won. You didn't win, remember?
WONG: I'm aware of that.
PRICE: And that was their policy.
WONG: I'm aware of that. I wouldn't have 'Shadow' before my title...
PRICE: The Australian people have voted on what that policy was and the Coalition won.
WONG: Yes, the Coalition did win the election but Senators were also elected and the Labor Party was elected and we were elected with a very clear view - a view that appears to be shared by many others, and there is no good reason for the Parliament not to do its job. We've managed to give women equal pay, we've managed to do a lot of things as a Parliament, none of which went to a plebiscite. The only plebiscite in the last 100 years has been for the national anthem. What's different about this?
WALEED ALY: What is different about this, as Steve says, it was presented at an election and the Government now has a mandate to proceed along this path. You can say thats a bad result, but that's the reality now. So the question is, for you: Do you regard a plebiscite as too high a price to pay so that you would rather wait for three, six, nine years to win an election so you can avoid it?
WONG: Two points. First, the way in which you described mandate would suggest the Labor Party has to vote for everything, including the massive corporate tax cut that Malcolm Turnbull...
ALY: No I'm not. I'm suggesting that's what makes it different from other plebiscites and I'm suggesting that's what it makes it specious for you to say he should just change his mind. He is not going to do that because he won an election on it.
WONG: But he should. Hes the leader.
ALY: But were not in the ideal, we're dealing with the practical and the real now.
WONG: So am I. What I would say to you, I don't accept the second part of your question either, which is a kind of binary of it is 'my way or the highway'. What Ive said, in answering Steve's question is, people have changed their minds on this issue in this place, in Canberra, because the community has. Just as they have on the issue of substance, about Marriage Equality, we need to change the politicians' minds on the issue of a free vote and on the issue of Parliament dealing with it. The only reason we are in a plebiscite discussion is it is because what people who oppose Marriage Equality wanted. Let's remember that.
BICKMORE: Right Senator we appreciate your time tonight. Thanks so much for coming on.