Daniel McCullochVerified account

Liberal senator Dean Smith: "Just under three years ago, I moved from 'no' to 'yes'," he says, having changed his mind after the death of Tori Johnson in the Lindt cafe siege. #marriageequality #auspol

"In a time when institutions are questioned, we have seen in this debate how our parliament was meant to work."

"The debate confirmed the evolutionary nature of this bill. The lack of substantive amendments indicates we got the balance correct."

"The bill is the fulfilment of the people's will to extend equality to all citizens and it takes away no religious or civil right from anyone."

"Like much of what we do here, most of the real winners we will never meet."

"We will never truly know what it means for the young Australian boy or girl who is working out that they are gay or lesbian or intersex or transgender. They will quickly realise they have nothing to fear."