Legislative Council holds Tasmania back. SA seizes the day

The Tasmanian Greens said that the Legislative Council had held Tasmania back and condemned itself to the wrong side of history by voting down the Same Sex Marriage Bill 2012.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that he was bitterly disappointed for the thousands of LGBTI Tasmanians condemned to second class status by the eight Legislative Councillors who had opposed the Bill.

“The Legislative Council has chosen division over unity, discrimination over respect, and the Nineteenth Century over the Twenty First,” Mr McKim said.

“It has held Tasmania back morally, socially and economically and condemned itself to the wrong side of history.”

“The Greens are naturally disappointed at this result, but those really let down by this decision are the thousands of loving same-sex couples who just want to be treated like everybody else.”

“Those who had watched this debate with hope in their hearts should at least take comfort in knowing that change will come one way or another, even if it doesn’t happen in Tasmania first.”

“I would like to congratulate those in the LGBTI community who have campaigned so hard on this issue, including Rodney Croome, along with the six MLCs who bravely supported the Bill.”

“Tasmania is not a moral backwater, and nothing about today’s vote will change the fact that we are a community of love, tolerance and respect.”

“It’s unfortunate that the world was treated to the sorry spectacle of eight out of fourteen members taking the coward’s option by searching desperately for excuses for their defense of the indefensible.”

“The Tasmanian Greens will not give up on this issue, but we must now accept that Tasmania will not lead the way on marriage equality.”

• Peter Whish-Wilson: Legislative Council says ‘yes’ to discrimination and ‘no’ to economic growth

The Tasmanian Legislative Council has today cost the Tasmanian economy millions of dollars of additional tourism income through rejecting the Same-Sex marriage bill, Greens Tourism spokesperson Senator Peter Whish-Wilson stated earlier today.

“What the Upper House has done today is pave the way for another state, such as South Australia, which is considering similar legislation, to profit from the Council’s blinkered approach,’ Senator Whish-Wilson said.

“These are the same people who continually bemoan the state of our economy and the lack of job creation.

“This wasn’t just about being socially progressive, something Tasmania has a proud history on in this area, but also the significant economic benefits.

“Tourism employs nearly 15 per cent of the Tasmanian workforce and is a major contributor to gross state product.

“However, like other areas of the economy it’s labouring under the weight of a high dollar and a fall off in tourism numbers.

“Recent reports examining the economic stimulus from passing same-sex marriage bills in areas such as the state of Massachusetts indicate the potential stimulus to our economy would be around $96m across a five-year period, creating potentially hundreds of new jobs.

“Our economy is already geared toward supporting tourism, so this isn’t something foreign, rather tapping into a significant new market.

“While I welcome any state going down this road, if Tasmania was to reap the maximum economic gain we needed to be first past the post.

“The members of Tasmania’s Legislative Council have today said ‘yes’ to continuing discrimination and ‘no’ to growing our tourism sector.”

TASMANIAN GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS GROUP

ADVOCATES VOW TO STEP UP FIGHT FOR TAS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL
OTHER STATES WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO MOVE FORWARD

Marriage equality advocates say they will step up their campaign to allow same-sex couples to legally marry following a narrow defeat for a same-sex marriage bill in Tasmania’s Upper House last night.

Tasmanian gay rights advocate and Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Rodney Croome said,

“The fact that we have come so close to achieving marriage equality inspires us to step up our campaign.”

“Most Upper House members who opposed this Bill were concerned more with the constitutional issues than with same-sex marriages which shows that even though we lost the vote we have won the debate.”

“Now our attention turns to convincing Upper House members to support an inquiry into the constitutional issues raised by the Bill.”

“We will continue to advocate and lobby on this issue right up to the next Upper House vote which we expect to be sooner rather than later.”

Mr Croome said he believes the fact Tasmanian has come so close to achieving marriage equality will encourage the other states to follow.

“We will see same-sex couples marrying somewhere in Australia within a matter of months.”

The Tasmanian Same-Sex Marriage Bill was defeated 8 votes to 6 after an exhausting two day debate in the state Upper House. The Bill’s sponsor, Ruth Forrest, has introduced a motion calling on the Upper House to establish an inquiry into the constitutional issues raised by the Bill.

Similar legislation is under serious consideration in South Australian, NSW and the ACT.

LEGISLATIVE COUCIL OPPOSITION TO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL WELCOME

Thursday 27 September 2012

The Legislative Council rejection of the Same-Sex Marriage Bill has been welcomed by the Save Marriage Coalition.

Mr Guy Barnett, spokesperson for the Save Marriage Coalition said “the vote sent a strong message that marriage between a man and a woman was a bedrock institution worth protecting. If same-sex marriage was supported it would have denied children the reasonable expectation of coming into the world with both a mum and a dad.

“We thank the Members of the Legislative Council for listening carefully to the arguments for and against. On the whole their deliberations were thoughtful and mature. The case for same-sex marriage could only deliver 6 votes out of 15, so the win was decisive.

It is true that strong views are held on both sides in our community but our legislators at a Federal and Tasmanian level can see the concerns with same-sex marriage, he said.

“The Labor Government prior to the election promised no change to our marriage laws. It broke this promise and have no mandate for change. Many Legislative Councillors noted strong support in their electorates for marriage between a man and a woman and that same-sex marriage was a ‘bridge too far’.

“The consequences of same-sex marriage would have harmful ripple effects across the community including in our schools, he said.

“The weight of legal opinion confirmed the Bill was likely to be unconstitutional, had serious flaws and would lead to costly High Court litigation. We can’t afford the government to waste money on a likely loss in the High Court.

“With decisive results now in both the Federal and Tasmanian Parliaments the community has been sent a strong message of support for marriage. It is time to move on”, Mr Barnett concluded.

The Save Marriage Coalition has over thirty members including organisations, churches, businesses and individuals.

• Australian Christian Lobby: Three year campaign to redefine marriage fails to persuade Parliamentarians

Last night’s failure in Tasmania of yet another same-sex marriage bill is further proof that the Greens and gay activists have failed to persuade Parliamentarians of the merits of redefining marriage.

Australian Christian Lobby Managing Director Jim Wallace said State and Federal politicians should now be allowed to get on with the business of government instead of continually being distracted by the Greens’ tactic of legislation by fatigue.

“Despite three years of favourable media coverage, co-opting celebrities, three Federal Parliamentary inquiries and numerous bills, the activists have failed to persuade elected representatives of the merits of such a radical cultural change,” Mr Wallace said.

“Parliamentarians in Canberra and now Tasmania have carefully considered the consequences of redefining marriage over the past three years and are not persuaded.

“The Greens and the activists should respect their considered decision and now allow governments to govern.”

• TASMANIAN GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS GROUP

CALL ON BOTH SIDES OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE DEBATE TO “CALM DOWN”
INQUIRY WILL MAKE FOR MORE MATURE DEBATE
S.A. SET TO SEIZE FIRST-MOVER ADVANTAGE AFTER IT VOWS TO MOVE AHEAD ON REFORM

Tasmanian marriage equality advocates have called for calm on both sides of the debate.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

“I call on supporters of reform not to push away people whose support we will need.”

“I remind Upper House members who opposed reform that however unpleasant it is to receive a few angry emails, it’s nothing compared to what gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people put up with every day of our lives thanks to legally-entrenched discrimination.”

Mr Croome said an inquiry into the constitutional issues raised by state same-sex marriage laws will help heal the wounds opened by the marriage equality debate.

“This Bill will return to parliament and when it does the findings of an inquiry into the constitutional issues raised by state same-sex marriage laws will make for a more mature and considered debate.”

“We urge those Upper House members who say their primary concern is the constitutional viability of state same-sex marriage laws to embrace this inquiry.”

Meanwhile, South Australia is set to become the first state to allow same-sex marriages with a commitment to move on the issue early next year.

According to a report in today’s Australian newspaper, S.A. social inclusion minister, Ian Hunter, said a Bill will be introduced in the New Year and he expects to be the first such legislation tested in the High Court.

Mr Croome said,

“Upper House members who voted against reform effectively voted to give another state the immense economic benefits that come with being the first mover on this issue.”

“They will have to live with the fact they denied hundreds of jobs to young Tasmanians in the wedding, tourism and small business sectors.”

On Thursday night the Tasmanian Upper House voted down a same-sex marriage bill eight votes to six.

Immediately after, the Bill’s sponsor, Ruth Forrest MLC, moved for an Upper House inquiry into the constitutional issues raised by the Bill.

For the Australian report go to:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/south-australia-takes-centre-stage-in-gay-marriage-debate/story-fn59niix-1226483789340