Its great to be here. Its great to look out and see Australians, Victorians from all over the State, some from interstate, people from all walks of life, different occupations, different faiths, different beliefs, all united in a desire to see a more equal Australia.
So thank you for being here. Were here because we believe in a principle - the principle of equality. Because we believe love is love and all love is equal.
We are here because we believe the quality of a relationship is not defined by gender or sexual orientation, but by markers such as love, respect and commitment.
We are here because we understand our community is ahead of our Parliament and weve got to do something about that.
We are here because we see and are living through this unstoppable movement towards equality. This unstoppable movement towards equality, towards acceptance, and towards understanding. Qualities that unfortunately remain absent in some of our parliamentarians.
We are here because we reject the spurious and hurtful arguments of those who oppose equality.
And we are here because we understand this: that change is never inevitable. Change always has to be fought for and campaigned for. Change always requires partnership across communities and across the Parliament.
Now I honour those, some of whom are here today, who have gone before, who have done so much to address inequality in our society, to stand up for the rights of LGBTI Australians.
And I was very pleased to be in the Parliament for this next step, when Bill Shorten introduced, as the alternative Prime Minister in the House of Representatives, a bill for marriage equality.
But there is more to do. There is always more to do.
Reflect for a moment on the fact that this year marks the 40^th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act, and it seems remarkable there was once a time in this nation when it was legal to discriminate on the basis of race, but there was.
And that change was won, that change was enshrined and that change will endure because our community worked together and our Parliament stood together against discrimination.
That is why we need to have bipartisanship and a free vote when it comes to marriage equality.
Its time for the many in the Liberal and National Party who support equality to step up and I acknowledge the courage of those who have come forward. And it is time for Tony Abbott to get out of the way.
And friends, if we are successful, if we do win marriage equality, I want you to reflect on the days and weeks and months and years thereafter. The sun will still shine. The sky wont fall in. Heterosexual marriages will not be somehow more fragile.
But we would have made a profound statement. A profound statement about equality, about acceptance and about understanding. A profound statement to LGBTI Australians everywhere that you are included and you belong.
 
And it will be a message heard by those all over the country. The young woman in regional Victoria, the young man from Far North Queensland, still struggling with who they are. They will hear our message.
 
And we will have made a profound statement of the Australia we want and the Australia we hope for. And that, friends, is worth fighting for. Thank you.