Marriage equality to bring $100m windfall for state economy, expert says

As the Federal Government considers three private members bills to legalise same-sex marriage, a leading American academic visiting the country launched a report suggesting that Tasmania could reap almost $100 million towards its economy should it become the first state to move for marriage equality.

Professor Lee Badgett, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts and Director of the Williams Institute at UCLA, was in Tasmania today to present the report to political and business leaders, including Premier Lara Giddings.

Tasmania's Greens leader Nick McKim has promised to introduce state-based legislation on same-sex marriage later this year.

Badgett, author of the award winning book When Gay People Get Married, said the first state in Australia to legalise same-sex marriage could stand to see a positive economic impact of up to $96 million.

“This is a conservative figure based on low estimates of the numbers of same-sex couples and their wedding spend, and it also doesn’t include the flow-on for tourism,” she said.

“But even as a lower-end figure, $96 million is still significant, especially because it will mostly benefit the small business sector which is critical to the health of the Tasmanian economy.”

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, welcomed the report.

“Should the Federal Parliament fail to enact marriage equality later this year, the Badgett report is a compelling reason for Tassie to go it alone,” he said.

“If we don’t reap the equality dividend, another state or territory is sure to.”

Badgett (pictured, right, with Giddings) will also soon be in Sydney for the ‘Marriage Equality – the International Experience’ conference hosted by the Whitlam Institute at Trades Hall Auditorium on Friday, March 2.

The American academic will be joined by former Dutch MP and long-time human rights campaigner, Boris Dittrich.

Dittrich introduced legislation that saw the Netherlands become the first country in the world to allow same-sex marriages and is now advocacy director of the LGBT Rights Program at Human Rights Watch in New York

Meanwhile, Greens MP Cate Faehrmann has appealed to members of the LGBTI community to help lobby NSW Upper House MPs before they soon debate a motion calling on the Commonwealth Parliament to amend the current Marriage Act.

“It’s really important that MPs hear the personal stories from people who are impacted by this last century discrimination,” Faehrmann said.

“If successful, the motion will be a big boost to the national campaign. We all need to be a part of this.”

Contact details for relevant NSW MPs can be found at http://catefaehrmann.org    

‘Marriage Equality – the International Experience’ conference is on 5pm-6.30pm Friday, March 2 at Trades Hall Auditorium. Entry is free, however RSVP is necessary. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 02 9685 9187.