Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

The media are gathered at the Prime Minister's courtyard to listen to his press conference.

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

The Prime Minister during his Same-sex marriage press conference at Parliament House. "The Australian people have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly ‘yes’ for marriage equality. They voted ‘yes’ for fairness. They voted ‘yes’ for commitment. They voted ‘yes’ for love."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Prime Minister, "Many people stood in our way, the Labor Party, a number of people on the crossbench and others. They didn't want Australians to have a say."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Senator Mathias Cormann listens to the Prime Minister

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Senator Mathias Cormann listens to the Prime Minister

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Prime Minister, "But you know, this is a free vote. It is very important to remember what I promised at the election. My commitment was to give every Australian their say. That has been done. They have spoken."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Prime Minister, "Now, it is also a free vote. That means members of the Coalition can vote on the Bill whichever way their conscience tells them to vote and on amendments. And they can move whatever amendments they wish. And there will no doubt be a very lively debate."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Prime Minister, "And there will be amendments put up, some will no doubt be accepted, others will not. That’s in the nature of the debate. But it is a free vote. And that’s the commitment we made at the election."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Prime Minister, "We are sticking scrupulously to the promises we made at the election."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Senator Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance, "I am on the public record as saying that I believe the Smith Bill is a good starting point and a number of Senators have given notice that they will seek to introduce the Smith Bill into the Senate this afternoon. I do believe that there is a need for some additional religious protections."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Senator Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance, "I am on the public record as saying that I believe the Smith Bill is a good starting point and a number of Senators have given notice that they will seek to introduce the Smith Bill into the Senate this afternoon. I do believe that there is a need for some additional religious protections."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Senator Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance, "What would happen this week, if the motion that was given notice of in the Senate were to pass the Senate later today, is that tomorrow the Senate would start the second reading debate."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Senator Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance speaking during a press conference about same-sex marriage and the way ahead following the announcement of the survey results.

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

The Prime Minister listens to a question during his same-sex marriage press conference at Parliament House.

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Prime Minister, responds to a question from a journalist "Well I don't accept your premise. But I am always able and do meet with colleagues from all sides of the debate on this issue to talk about their concerns and whatever proposed amendments they have. So I am very happy to discuss those with them."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Prime Minister, "But equally we are a nation of a fair go and mutual respect and we treat people equally."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Prime Minister, "We don't discriminate against people because of their gender or their sexual orientation, their religion or race or the colour of their skin."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Prime Minister, "So we are the nation of the fair go. That’s why we’re the most successful multicultural society in the world. Admired, I might say throughout the world for precisely that. So we should cherish that."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Prime Minister, "So I look forward to talking further with my colleagues, I do that all the time. That’s part of my job as PM."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Prime Minister, "To be honest with you, the Bill that James Patterson has given notice of, I was only advised of its existence on Monday when I was overseas, as you all know. So I haven’t had the opportunity to read through it carefully."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Trevor Evans MP looks on with interest as the Prime Minister talks about the same-sex survey result at a Parliament House press conference.

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Trevor Evans MP and Tim Wilson MP look on as the Prime Minister talks about the same-sex survey result at a Parliament House press conference.

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Senator Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance, "Personally, I believe that the Smith Bill will need some improvements. Personally, I believe that the Paterson Bill goes somewhat too far. I would like to think that the Parliament will be able to meet somewhere in between..."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

The Prime Minister listens to Mathias Cormann speaking during the press conference about same-sex marriage.

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Senator Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance, "What we have today is a direction from the Australian people for the Parliament to act"

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Prime Minister, "The Smith Bill has the advantage of having been around for some months now. Everyone is familiar with it. It has a wide degree of support across the chambers."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Prime Minister, "Well obviously, Mathias and I and other members and senators will examine amendments that are proposed on their merit."

Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey

Senator Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance listens to the Prime Minister during the press conference.