Scott Morrison hits back at Penny Wong’s plebiscite speech

RESPONDING to an emotional speech taking aim at the plebiscite for same-sex marriage, Scott Morrison decided to play the victim.

Scott Morrison said he has “personal experience” with what LGBT people suffer through.

SCOTT Morrison has hit back after Labor frontbencher Penny Wong delivered an emotional speech taking aim at politicians who support a plebiscite on same-sex marriage.

Speaking to ABC radio this morning, the Treasurer said he believed those who opposed same-sex marriage were likewise victims of hatred and bigotry.

“Frankly people who have very strong religious views … have been subject to … quite dreadful hate speech and bigotry as well,” he said.

“I understand the concerns Penny is raising. I know it from personal experience having been exposed to that sort of hatred and bigotry for the views I’ve taken from others who have a different view to me.”

Mr Morrison, who worships at a Pentecostal church in Sydney, is a self-described “conservative Christian” who publicly opposes marriage equality.

Scott Morrison said he believes those who oppose same-sex marriage are likewise victims of hatred and bigotry.

In a powerful speech delivered at the annual Lionel Murphy Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, Senator Wong said heterosexual politicians were unable to understand the hatred lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) Australians would endure if a national vote was held on the issue.

“A plebiscite designed to deny me and many other Australians a marriage certificate will instead license hate speech to those who need little encouragement,” she told a packed Australian National University audience.

“Mr Turnbull, and many commentators on this subject, don’t understand that for gay and lesbian Australians, hate speech is not abstract. It’s real. It’s part of our everyday life.”

Senator Wong — who is in a long-term same-sex relationship and has two young daughters — said she was firmly against the national vote. She said those opposed to marriage equality would attempt to denigrate same-sex relationships like the one she shared with her partner, Sophie Allouache.

“I oppose a plebiscite because I do not want my relationship, my family, to be the subject of inquiry, of censure, of condemnation, by others. And I don’t want other relationships, other families, to be targeted either,” Senator Wong said.

Penny Wong (right) pictured with her partner Sophie Allouache.

Senator Wong also hit out at the Prime Minister’s claim that a national vote would be conducted respectfully, saying it was “the hollowest of hollow words”.

She said many gay and lesbian Australians were still living in secret because they didn’t know what reaction to expect when they came out.

“Many same-sex couples don’t hold hands on the street because they don’t know what reaction they’ll get. Some hide who they are for fear of the consequences at home, at work, at school,” she said.

“Not one straight politician advocating a plebiscite on marriage equality knows what that is like. What it is like to live with the casual and deliberate prejudice that some still harbour.”

Senator Penny Wong and partner Sophie Allouache with their newborn baby girl Alexandria at their home in Adelaide.

During Malcolm Turnbull’s appearance on Q&A earlier this week, one questioner said it was an insult for her to be asked to vote for her gay son and nephew to be equal before the law.

“Why are you not amending the law within the Marriage Act? It is a parliamentary process. We elect representatives into parliament,” she told the Prime Minister.

In response, he conceded that she had made a powerful point: “From a legal and constitutional point of view, you’re right. Parliament could amend the Marriage Act without the support, without the consultation, of a plebiscite.

“I am the Prime Minister but I’m not the dictator. Some people like the idea of prime ministers that ignore their colleagues. I don’t agree with that. I’m a strong believer in traditional cabinet government. And that means compromise.

“That means listening to your colleagues. That means being the first among equals and respecting the views of those in your cabinet and in your partyroom that you may not agree with.”

Appearing on Q&A earlier this week, Malcolm Turnbull insisted a plebiscite was not his idea.

In the same episode, he stressed that a plebiscite was not his idea, adding that his preference was to have it dealt with by a free vote in Parliament.

He also claimed two thirds of Australians thought the plebiscite was “a fantastic idea”.

On the claim that it would lead to public homophobia — which Penny Wong and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten have argued — he said: “I have great faith in the decency and the fundamental common sense of Australians. I believe it will be a very civilised discussion. I think if there are people that make outrageous or extreme comments they will only undo their own cause.”

During the online leaders’ debate on Friday night, Bill Shorten said he does not want to hold a plebiscite.

“If we give the green light to some taxpayer-funded debate contrasting the different positions of marriage equality, you’d have to live on another planet to think that some of the critics of marriage equality are not motivated by homophobia,” Mr Shorten said.

He called on Mr Turnbull not to give “hate and homophobia” a platform by holding a national vote, asking him to instead vote for marriage equality in the Parliament.

“We’ll have the numbers, the conscience people in your party and my party, we can change this and do it without the hate and homophobia,” he said.

Originally published as Scott Morrison hits back at Penny Wong’s plebiscite speech