The dinner was won by the lobby group Australian Marriage Equality in a charity auction at this year’s parliamentary Mid Winter Ball. The funds raised went to children’s charities, including Angel Flight.

Australian Marriage Equality national convenor, Alex Greenwich said community members attending the dinner will be from all four independents’ electorates and they will tell their representatives why marriage equality will have a positive impact.

“Marriage equality is about affirming the importance of commitment, family and tradition, values which are particularly important in rural and regional Australia,” Mr Greenwich said.

The community members include the mother of a gay son from Bob Katter’s electorate, an active community figure from Tony Windsor’s electorate and a female same-sex partner from Rob Oakeshott’s Lyne electorate.

The dinner will also be attended by national advocates for marriage equality including Rodney Croome (who is also from Andrew Wilkie’s electorate), PFLAG spokesperson Shelley Argent, Daniel Witthaus (who recently completed a national tour of regional and rural Australia) and Mr Greenwich.