invited to address the New South Wales Legislative Assembly before a debate on the subject, one of only a handful of occasions on which non-MPs have been invited to speak in parliament. He was later tasked with lobbying Labor senators to vote for what became the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997, which voided the Northern Territory's euthanasia laws. Same-sex marriage Burke publicly announced his support of marriage equality in May 2015, and voted in favour of the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017. He had previously voted against the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012, citing opposition within his constituency. His division had the second-highest percentage of "No" responses in the 2017 Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, with 69.64% of the electorate's respondents to the survey responding "No". Personal life Burke married Cathy Bresnan in 1994; after commencing their relationship in 1989. She subsequently took the surname "Bresnan-Burke". The couple had three daughters together, but separated at the end of December 2012, the separation was not disclosed until the completion of the Federal Election in September 2013. In February 2014, The Australian reported that Burke had recently commenced a relationship with Skye Laris, his former chief of staff. Burke and Laris married in December 2015. He is also known for his love of music and keeps musical instruments in his Parliament House office. Burke has coeliac disease. See also Rudd Government (2007–10) Gillard Government Rudd Government (2013) Albanese Government References External links Tony Burke's personal website Australian Parliament Biography Summary of parliamentary voting for Tony Burke MP on TheyVoteForYou.org.au |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- 1969 births Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia Labor Right politicians Living people Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Watson Members of the Australian House of Representatives Members of the Cabinet of Australia Government ministers of Australia Leaders of the Australian House of Representatives Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council People educated at St Patrick's College, Strathfield Politicians from Sydney Sydney Law School alumni 21st-century Australian politicians Albanese Government