Greater support for reform

AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Media Release
Monday June 18th 2012

PARLIAMENTARY SAME-SEX MARRIAGE REPORT WILL ENCOURAGE GREATER SUPPORT FOR REFORM

Marriage equality advocates say a report on the issue tabled in parliament today is a step forward that will encourage MPs to support reform.

Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said the report clears up the key concerns of some MPs, for example, by making it clear churches will not have to marry same-sex couples.

“This report will convince many of the MPs who are still ambivalent or undecided about marriage equality to support the issue because it clears up many of their outstanding concerns”, Mr Greenwich said.

“The report’s positive message will be magnified by the fact that it has the unanimous support of both the Labor and Coalition MPs who sat on the inquiry.”

The unanimous report from the House of Representatives Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee does not make any recommendation for or against same-sex marriage legislation, but it does makes it clear that:

• religious celebrants will not have to marry same-sex couples if they do not wish to
• both sides of the debate value marriage and family
• people of faith have divergent views, and in Australia there is a separation between church and state
• the legal definition of marriage has changed over the course of Australian history including the enactment and subsequent removal of bans on marriage between indigenous and non-indigenous people
• outstanding constitutional questions should not be a barrier to same-sex marriage legislation
• de facto relationships and civil unions do not equate to marriage and do not provide equality

The report notes that over a quarter of a million responses were sent to the Social Policy Committee inquiry, “the largest received in the history of federal parliamentary committees”, with a strong majority of 64% or 177,663 submissions, in favour of marriage equality.

Mr Greenwich said the response to the inquiry shows not only that Australians support reform but that they support it passionately.

“We urge MPs to see the overwhelming, positive response to this inquiry as a sign that Australians from all walks of life and every part of the country want to see reform occur as soon as possible.”

The report recommended minor changes to the two same-sex marriage Bills currently before the House of Representatives.

The committee chair, Graham Perrett, and committee member, Laura Smyth, made additional comments in which they noted,

“the expectation of a separation of church and state in Australian society. We are satisfied that this is not compromised by the amendments proposed in either bill. Australia is a nation that respects the diversity of its citizens. In considering social change and the shape of Australia’s future, the Parliament must both lead the nation and appreciate the values of a modern nation.”

A copy of the report can be downloaded from here:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=spla/bill%20marriage/report.htm

• PLENTY OF TIME FOR OPPONENTS TO SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
Monday, 18 June 2012

The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the Commonwealth Parliament debate on marriage equality and the tabling of the House of Representatives report into marriage equality.

The House of Representatives debated two marriage equality bills today, the co-sponsored Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2012 of Greens Melbourne MP Adam Bandt and Andrew Wilkie MP, and the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012 of Labor’s Stephen Jones.

Greens Leader Nick McKim said the House of Representatives’ report into marriage equality by the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs had attracted a record 276,000 submissions, with the majority in support of giving gay couples the same marital rights as opposite sex couples.

“The majority of the submissions to the House of Representative’s marriage equality committee were in support of same-sex marriage. This is in line with poll after poll, which consistently show majority public support for marriage equality in Australia.”

“The Greens believe the best way for this to happen is to amend the Marriage Act, so that all Australian couples are free to marry whoever they wish regardless of the State they live in. If the Commonwealth Parliament fails to bring about this long-overdue reform, Tasmania will have the chance to take the lead.”

“With the date for the crucial House of Representatives’ vote on the Bandt-Wilkie and Jones bills unscheduled, there is plenty of time for Tony Abbott to grant Liberal MPs a conscience vote and for Labor MPs to back this long overdue reform.”

“Whenever that vote takes place, if it fails to deliver, then the Tasmanian Greens will move to bring on our suite of marriage equality bills which I have already tabled in the State Parliament.”

“MPs cannot realistically call for there to be less discrimination in society while defending the entrenched discrimination in the Marriage Equality Act. In a progressive country like ours, it must be amended.”

“I am confident that love will win out so that any Australian, regardless of their gender or sexuality will one day be able to marry who they choose, free from state interference,” said Mr McKim.

• ANOTHER SHOW OF STRONG PUBLIC BACKING FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
Tuesday 19 June 2012

The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the opportunity for Federal MPs to help end discrimination and allow all Australians the right to marry regardless of their gender or sexuality, with yesterday’s tabling of two marriage equality Bills in the Commonwealth Parliament.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP welcomed the tabling of the HoR’s Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs’ Advisory Report into the two Bills, which attracted a record 276,000 submissions, with the majority in support of giving gay couples the same marital rights as opposite sex couples.

“The majority of these submissions were in support of same-sex marriage, and this is in line with poll after poll, which also show majority public support for marriage equality,” Mr McKim said.

“The public is sending a clear message to our elected representatives to make this long-overdue reform and allow every Australian couple the right to marry, regardless of their gender or sexuality.”

“With the vote on these crucial Bills some way off, there is ample opportunity for undecided MPs, not just in the Commonwealth Parliament but in all the state parliaments, including Tasmania’s, to back marriage equality and help end discrimination.”

“With the prospect of the Commonwealth Parliament amending the Marriage Act far from certain, Tasmania must stand ready to take the lead and legalise marriage equality in the state if it fails at the Federal level.”

“We urge State and Federal MPs to support marriage equality in the Commonwealth Parliament.”

“Doing so will ensure that they stand on the right side of history when it inevitably becomes law,” said Mr McKim.