Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) — I rise today to support a yes vote in the upcoming marriage equality postal survey. The Yuroke electorate and indeed the state of Victoria is home to many LGBTI individuals, couples and families. Their relationships should be treated with the same respect and value as those of their friends and neighbours in our community. Equality before the law is a fundamental mark of fairness and social progress. I am pleased with the progress we have made in recent years, including legalising adoption equality in this place, but as a nation we have not come far enough.

Celebrating a wedding of friends or family is always very special and memorable. I was thrilled to celebrate the wedding of my good friend the member for Sunbury to the beautiful Jasmine last year, and next year my niece Sam will be married in Tasmania. But I also want to know that Sam’s sister has the option to marry if she chooses to do so, that other friends and colleagues in same‑sex relationships have that option and that friends like Justin and Ryan, who travelled across the globe to be married in Texas, have the option to do so here surrounded by family and friends — and I want to be able to celebrate those weddings with them all.

I urge all residents of the Yuroke electorate and across Victoria to ensure their enrolment is up to date on the Australian Electoral Commission website before 24 August and to send a strong message to the federal Liberal government that quite simply the law needs to recognise that love is love by voting yes when ballots are distributed next month.