Updated
In a Q&A episode that began as a discussion of
Australia's energy woes, and touched on immigration, world politics and
domestic security, the biggest audience response was reserved for an
audience member who made a passionate speech about same-sex marriage.
Alexander,
who described himself as a gay, Australian-born Chinese man, originally
asked the panel a question about how Australia could combat homophobia
in minority communities "and ensure that the discussion surrounding
marriage equality is focused on the subject of marriage, and not
conflated with unrelated topics".
But it was his response to comments from Assistant Minister to the Treasurer Michael Sukkar, who supports keeping existing marriage laws, that earned Alexander a prolonged round of applause from the audience.
"I would say to you, Alexander — don't believe that somebody like me who does support traditional marriage in any way is looking down on you, or doesn't think that you have a legitimate relationship," Mr Sukkar said.
"Those of us who believe very strongly in traditional marriage shouldn't be lumped into the basket that we are somehow hateful.
"There are some very good arguments for same-sex marriage … but it's not illegitimate to say … that there are very significant consequences for our country if we vote for same-sex marriage."
Alexander responded to Mr Sukkar, saying a no vote "is really a reflection of my relationship".
"What you're saying is that I'm not allowed to have a marriage, or I'm not allowed to have a relationship that is worthy of marriage, because that is something that only you can have as a person in a relationship of opposite sex," he said."So when you do go to cast your ballot of no, you are saying that your relationship is worthy of marriage and mine is not."
Mr Lau said his family accepted his sexuality "in their own way" by not openly discussing his relationships.
Labor Senate leader Penny Wong, who was born in Malaysia and is in a same-sex relationship, said people in minorities had often argued for "equal treatment on the basis of equality".
"You can't pick and choose equality," Senator Wong said."If you believe in the principle on the basis of race or gender, I don't see why it is a principle that is somehow diminished or abrogated because of someone's sexual orientation."
Australia should 'shame' Aung San Suu Kyi to help Rohingya
The panel, which also included Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Bret Stephens and Investor Group on Climate Change chief executive Emma Herd also touched on Australia's response to the treatment of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
About 400,000 Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh since violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state escalated in August.
The UN has denounced the Myanmar Government's "brutal security operation" against the Rohingya, and has termed it a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing".
The panel was asked why Australia had not imposed sanctions on Myanmar.
"Sadly, going down a path of sanctions at first instance can often hurt the people … that we are trying to assist," Mr Sukkar said."If our instinctive reaction is one that makes it more difficult to do work in that country, the very people we're trying to help are the ones that end up being hurt."
Stephens said it was wrong to penalise civilians in Myanmar for the actions of its government.
"You shouldn't underestimate the moral power of shaming Aung San Suu Kyi," he said.
"People have talked about demand that her Nobel Peace Prize be revoked — I don't know if that's possible — but it helps when leading politicians in places like Australia make that argument because this is really now on her.
"You have an opportunity in [Ms Suu Kyi] to exert moral pressure to change the policy and to do so immediately."
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