Senator GREIG (5:24 PM) —With just three minutes to sum up, it is very difficult—indeed, impossible—to reflect on all the contributions that were made, but I do sincerely thank senators for their contributions. It is important that we discuss this issue. Much of the discussion we have heard here today genuinely reflects where much of the Australian community is.

Having said that, let me say that this issue has absolutely nothing to do with marriage. Anybody who mentioned it is talking through their hat. The fact is that the war widows pension is paid to people whether they are married or not, whether they have kids or not. This is about relationships. In that regard, the community has moved on. In effect, we have had a national referendum on this issue because of what has been done at a state and territory level. State and territory governments, often with the support and initial encouragement of minor parties, have already brought about this reform. The people have spoken. There is no strong call from any quarter opposing this legislation.

I would also make the point that while Mr Young's claim was rejected, as Senator Santoro said, through his first applications in trying to address this, it was rejected with regret. It was rejected because of the lack of opportunity to address this issue at a domestic level. They were not trying to establish a precedent at law. They were expressing with regret the fact that he had no opportunity, no option, but to go to the United Nations. That is not acceptable.

Senator Mason said that ultimately this is a question of choice. I say this to Senator Mason: people in our community do not wake up one day and say to themselves: `I think I'll be homosexual. I think I will place myself in a position of being discriminated against in every possible way, disenfranchising myself from my friends and family, and being at greater risk of abuse, harassment and discrimination.' I echo the words of Justice Michael Kirby, who at one time said that discrimination against people on the grounds of sexual orientation is as morally reprehensible as discrimination on the grounds of race or religion.

Senator Harradine, you said in your argument that this is ultimately about what is best for our children. I agree with you. We are children. Gay and lesbian Australians are children. They are sons and daughters. They are, too, mums and dads—and brothers, uncles and aunties. They are judges, lawyers, doctors, garbologists and politicians, and they all deserve equal rights under the law. All we are asking for—all the community is asking for in a broader human rights context—is equality under the law in areas of relationship recognition. It has nothing to do with marriage and we are all children of the broader community.

Question put: