Senator Penny Wong

Senator Penelope Wong is the Labor Party Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water. Before entering Parliament, she was a barrister and solicitor in Adelaide and an adviser to the Carr Government in New South Wales. Born in East Malaysia to a Malasian Chinese father and an Australian mother she moved to Australia at the age of eight with her mother and younger brother Toby after her parents separated.

On returning to Adelaide, she began practising law, won a position on the ALP's state executive and also took on work as a legal officer with the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union. She is a practising Christian and attends the Pilgrim Uniting Church.

Last night on ABC's Q and A program, an angry young woman in the audience asked the Senator a very personal question about being gay - how could she support the Labor Party's policy on the banning of gay marriages?

Under Kevin Rudd, Labor amended laws to give gay couples more rights but they drew the line at changing the marriage laws saying the community expected marriage to remain solely for heterosexuals. The Coalition has a similar policy but the Greens want the law changed.

Senator Wong said "By virtue of whom I am, prejudice and discrimination are things I have first-hand knowledge of. When I entered parliament, I did actually think very carefully about how to handle being Asian and gay because it had never been done before". She made a decision that before entering public life, she would be absolutely open about who she was. "Part of the reason I did that was because I thought it was very important to show that you should never be ashamed of who you are" she said.

Greens Senator Christine Mile, also on the panel, took exception to her defence of Labor's record of tackling gay discrimination. "This is a lack of leadership I have to say" she said. Her party leader Senator Bob Brown, who is also openly gay said he was "horrified" by Senator Wong's position, he said political leaders needed to drag attitudes into the 21st century, rather than sweep them under the carpet. "Are we going to bring back hanging?" he said.

Graham Richardson, also on the panel leapt to Senator Won'g defence on the program. "I'm amazed somewhat by these questions really" he said. Labor's policies to help gay defacto couples would not have happened without Senator Wong's place in the government" adding that many ALP members were opposed to the measures.

Although the Senator looked a little shocked and perhaps hurt, she didn't break down and was stoic throughout and I think this little lady deserves a medal for bravery.