If you’ve ever wondered why marriage equality is important, just take a second to watch the heartbreaking story Magda Szubanski told on The Project tonight.

Everyone’s favourite Aussie funnywoman has been doing the media rounds this week, trying to convince ordinary Aussies to vote yes in the upcoming same-sex marriage postal survey.

Szubanski said she wanted to let people know that same-sex marriage is about more than just the idea of of equality, and that being in a de facto relationship doesn’t always give a couple the same rights as marriage would.

Her story was heartbreaking.

Magda Szubanski joins us to discuss the importance of voting in the marriage equality postal survey. #TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/NQK92nR6Ph

— #TheProjectTV (@theprojecttv) August 23, 2017

Here’s What She Said In Full

“A friend of mine — I feel teary again, but this is so full-on — she was telling me… you are not equally protected if you have a de facto relationship compared to a marriage.

“It is not just about love. It is about illness and death. That is when it really comes to the crunch.” 

“A friend of mine… her partner, long-term partner had cancer. She wanted to be in the room with her when she was having a painful treatment and the doctor said, ‘Next of kin only. Parents, siblings. No spouses.’ She wasn’t allowed in and she had to stand outside and listen to the screams of the woman she loved unable to even comfort her. 

“Now, in whose universe is that fair? What God thinks that is right? I don’t understand it.”

You’ve got 24 hours to make sure you’re enrolled for the survey. You can do it here.