Penny Wong is finally ‘ready to tie the knot with her girlfriend’ after almost two decades – six years after winning the battle to legalize same-sex marriage
Penny Wong is set to marry her long-term partner Sophie Allouache, although details of the ceremony are being kept secret.
The Foreign Minister, 55, and Ms Allouache have been together for almost 18 years. They met in 2006 and the couple have two daughters.
Several people have confirmed that they have been invited to the wedding, but have not revealed anything else Daily telegram.
Potential guests include Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Health Minister Mark Butler and Jay Weatherill, the former Labor premier of Senator Wong’s home state of South Australia.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong (pictured left) is set to marry her long-term partner Sophie Allouache
The passage of same-sex marriage laws was a turbulent period for Senator Wong.
She condemned the toxic debate surrounding the 2017 referendum on whether Australia should allow same-sex relationships – held under Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull – as an “expensive stunt”.
However, when Australians voted overwhelmingly to approve such marriages, she wept for joy.
“I hope everyone in this parliament today has heard the resounding voice of the Australian people, a mandate for change, a mandate for equality,” she said.
‘Because it’s time.
‘Thank you for standing up for fairness, thank you for standing up for equality. Thank you for standing up for our families.”
Seven years earlier, Senator Wong had controversially upheld Labor’s then-current policy that marriage was an institution between a man and a woman.
“On the issue of marriage, I think the reality is that there is a cultural, religious and historical view around what we need to respect,” she said.
Senator Wong publicly came out as gay in 2002, shortly after being elected to the Senate, although her sexuality was no secret to friends and family.
Ms Allouache, who works as a civil servant in Adelaide and is seven years younger than Senator Wong, carried and gave birth the couple’s daughters Alexandra and Hannah after undergoing IVF and using sperm from the same male donor.
Senator Wong called Alexandra’s birth in 2011 a life-changing experience.
Senator Wong (right) and Mrs Allouache greet the arrival of their first daughter Alexandra in 2011
‘Sophie and I are incredibly happy. As all new parents know, there is no such thing,” she said at the time
Hanna, born in 2015.
In a 2016 interview with Mamamia, Senator Wong described her family life as “boring normal.”
“We have a station wagon and a mortgage and we live in the suburbs,” she said.
Senator Wong’s office has been contacted for comment.
Senator Wong and Ms Allouache have been together for almost 18 years and share two daughters