Liberal MP Tim Wilson asks Ryan Bolger to marry him­

MP Tim Wilson and Ryan Bolger ­exchanged rings eight years ago, pledging to marry if and when it became legal.

Liberal MP Tim Wilson with partner Ryan Bolger after his proposal in the House of Representatives yesterday. Picture: Kym Smith.

Victorian Liberal MP Tim Wilson and Ryan Bolger ­exchanged gold rings eight years ago, pledging to marry if and when it became legal for them to do so.

In his first speech to parliament last year, Mr Wilson made reference to their relationship, poignantly describing the rings on their left hands as “the answer to a question we still cannot ask”.

Yesterday, the Goldstein MP ­finally dared to ask the question during a debate on the same-sex marriage bill, confident that Mr Bolger’s answer would be the same “yes” that 61.6 per cent of Australians delivered in the postal survey.

The first marriage proposal on the floor of the House of Representatives came during Mr Wilson’s second reading speech on the bill, as Mr Bolger sat in the public gallery.

“This debate has been the soundtrack to our relationship,” an emotional Mr Wilson said.

“We both know this issue isn’t the reason we got involved in politics. Give us tax reform any day.

“But in my first speech I defined our bond by the ring that sits on both of our left hands, that they are the answer to the questions we cannot ask. So there’s only one thing left to do. Ryan Patrick Bolger, will you marry me?”

Mr Bolger smiled, laughed and said “Yes”, and the house erupted into applause.

Earlier, Mr Wilson thanked fellow “rainbow rebel” Liberal sponsors of Dean Smith’s same-sex marriage bill, including Senator Smith, Trent Zimmerman, Trevor Evans and Warren Entsch, singling out Mr Entsch for praise as the only heterosexual man among them.

“A heavy burden fell to us and you have all lived lives of consequence, particularly to you, Warren,” Mr Wilson said. “Trev, Trent, Deano and myself fought with our heart because this debate chose us. You chose it because justice was in your heart.”