The Tasmanian Greens today (Thurs) welcomed the release of a new report on the economic value of same-sex marriage – the first-ever report of its kind outside the United States – which predicts a minimum $100 million windfall for Tasmania over three years.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said University of Massachusetts Economics Professor Lee Badgett had singled out Tasmania for her economic analysis of the economic impact of legalising same-sex marriage.
“Aside from the enormous social benefits of legalising same sex marriage, this report makes it clear that Tasmania can expect to reap a huge economic windfall from going it alone on same sex marriage,” Mr McKim said.
“If Tasmania was the first state to implement marriage equality, the state’s economy could expect to benefit from providing all those goods and services weddings usually entail, especially for our tourism and hospitality providers.”
“Some opponents of marriage equality have suggested Tasmania’s attentions should be focused on jobs and the economy, well here’s an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.”
“But this huge economic boost is conditional upon Tasmania being a first-mover and taking the lead by reforming this long-overdue anomaly.”
“Tasmania made history last year when the House of Assembly became the first house of any Australian Parliament to express in principle support for marriage equality.”
“The Greens’ view has always been marriage equality is best resolved at a Federal level, but if our Commonwealth Parliament fails to deliver, which could be the case, it is up Tasmania to take the lead.”
“Other Australian jurisdictions are looking to also move on this reform. I hope Tasmania is first.”
“I would also like to emphasise that the Greens’ long-running campaign for marriage equality in Tasmania and the rest of Australia is based on principle. We would continue to fight for it even if it carried no economic benefit.”
“The fact that it does carry this million-dollar boon for the state is just another reason good reason to strike legally entrenched discrimination from the state’s books and finally make this long-overdue reform law.”
Download: “The Economic Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples in Australia”. M.V. Lee Badgett and Jennifer Smith, February 2012:
ATTACH_Prof_Lee_Badget_Marriage_Equality_Study_Feb_2012.pdf
