Fourth marriage equality bill introduced
Marriage equality advocates have called on federal politicians to work together to achieve same-sex marriage reforms after a fourth bill calling for marriage equality was introduced into Parliament today.
Labor Senators Louise Pratt, Gavin Marshall, Carol Brown and Trish Crossin introduced the private members bill this morning calling for same-sex marriages to be made legal.
It is the second private members bill on the issue, with Labor MP Stephen Jones previously also introducing one.
The introduction of the bill means that there are now four marriage equality bills before Parliament.
Debate will also start later today on a marriage equality bill tabled by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (pictured).
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, welcomed the beginning of the marriage equality debate in the Senate but cautioned that reform would only occur when supporters worked together.
“We believe the Senate is the right place for the marriage equality debate to advance because it has some of the parliament's strongest advocates and has conducted the most comprehensive and supportive inquiries,” Greenwich said.
“However, we are concerned that there are now two competing marriage equality bills before the Senate, because the overseas experience shows when marriage equality supporters don't cooperate the reform is much harder to achieve.”
Hanson-Young meanwhile called on the likes of Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to lend their support to the reform.
“The Inquiry into my Bill, which was supported by all parties, strongly recommended that the federal marriage laws need to be changed to end the current discrimination against same-sex couples,” she said.
“Support for marriage equality is growing in the Senate and it is now time for Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott to get on the right side of history and join the national chorus for marriage equality.”
- Tags: Alex Greenwich, Australian Marriage Equality, Blaze, Greens, Julia Gillard, Labor, Marriage Equality, MCV, Politics, Queensland Pride, Same-Sex Marriage, Sarah Hanson-Young, Senate, SX, Tony Abbott
Comments (8)
All the Marriage Equality Bills will fail, due the the failed strategies of queer rights groups.
Gillard and Abbott have no place telling temples and churches how to conduct their services. Many clergy and Monks, and even Rabbi's, want to marry same-sex couples, many told the Senate Marriage Inquiry this. Even in my country town their are Priest and my local Anglican Bishop who wants to marry GLBTI Australians. Labor and Liberal are advocating no religious freedom, and the current Marriage Act, legislates discrimination in churches and temples. This Marriage Equality debate is also about giving religious freedom back to Australians, and this is often not said enough.
Dave, stop trolling. Religion is nothing to do with marriage. It is a secular institution.
Because the topic is not about marriage or what that means to some people...... The :Marriage Act dictates what happens in a church, placing a restriction on the free practice of religion.
I don't think any of the politicians realize how many LGBT there are in Australia and that when it comes time to vote all of us (including the ones not yet out) will be voting and have them removed from their seats. The jokes on them I say hehehe
Jay, it'll be a landslide to the coalition. Do you mean to tell me queer people, many queer people, won't be amongst those voting for them?
Or Gillard's, she has already said she wouldn't support marriage for glbt
Good luck getting Abbott's support.. that'll never happen :(
Good luck with it all though!