AUSTRALIANS should be allowed to smoke cannabis, seek euthanasia, buy cheaper cigarettes and alcohol, insult others, never vote and marry whoever they want, senators have been told.

In his inaugural speech, new Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm told his colleagues: “Liberty includes the right to make bad choices.”

media_camera Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm.

One of the newest gang of colourful crossbenchers, Leyonhjelm spoke of Vietnam War conscription and women forced to seek backyard abortions as powerful educators in “excessive government power” and the early root of his anti-big government views.

He said governments must drop taxes and untangle itself from the private lives of citizens.

It was unreasonable for drinkers and smokers to be taxed for their vices, for the enfeebled to be denied euthanasia, for marijuana to be criminal, for hurt feelings to stifle free speech and for gay people to be barred from marrying, he said.

Any person should be allowed to do as they wished, as long as they did not physically harm another, Senator Leyonhjelm said.

“It is quite irrelevant whether we approve of these things or would choose to do them ourselves,” he said.

“People need to be able to choose for themselves, and be free to choose, for good or for ill.”

Meanwhile, Senator Leyonhjelm indicated he would vote against G20 legislation allowing strip searches during November’s leadership summit.

He called his colleagues the “most representative swill ever assembled” and that the Senate would be an exciting place from now on.

jessica.marszalek@news.com.au