A man from far north Queensland with a wide moustache and wider sympathies. He’s a Far North Queenslander through and through, carries a broad country accent and on first look is a very unlikely standard-bearer for gay rights. Yet Warren Entsch has pushed the PM harder on anti-discrimination issues than any of his parliamentary colleagues. And for his troubles, Warren Entsch is walking away with a prestigious double award: Backbencher of the year and Gay-friendly Politician of the Year. Bravo!

2005 winner: Malcolm Turnbull, Backbencher of the Year, for “sheer scope and audacity”.

*Gay-friendly Politician of the Year is a new award

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