“I know what my family is worth.”

Penny Wong, Finance Minister. Source: http://images.theage.com.au/2008/08/07/175407/mbn_wong.jpg

Monday night’s live Q&A episode ended with Australia’s Finance Minister Penny Wong defending the circumstances of her family.

An audience member raised the issue of marriage equality in the last few minutes of the show. Panelist Joe Hockey answered first, once again highlighting his opposition for amendments to the Marriage Act.

The Shadow Finance Minister asserted, “I think in this life we’ve got to aspire to give our children what I believe to be the very best circumstances, and that’s to have a mother and a father.”

Wong and her partner Sophie had a baby last December, and has been praised for her calm and considered response.

“When you say those things Joe, what you’re saying to me and people like me is that the most important thing in our lives, the people we love, is somehow less good, less valued,” said Wong.

When the host asked whether Hockey’s comments were hurtful, the senator replied, “of course it is.  But I know what my family is worth.”

Words by Lex Guider

The video can be viewed here:

Penny Wong v Joe Hockey over Gay Marriage on Q and A (14–05-2012)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 at 2:33 pm. It is filed under Just In, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.