ADVOCATES DISAPPOINTED NO MARRIAGE EQUALITY VOTE BEFORE ELECTION

HOPE FOR OVERSEAS SAME-SEX MARRIAGES TO BE RECOGNISED

Australian Marriage Equality has expressed their disappointment that the Green’s Marriage Equality Bill will not come to a vote before the next election. Green’s MP Adam Bandt was the only member of the selection committee to support a vote on the reform.

Australian Marriage Equality national Director Rodney Croome said:

“We are disappointed that the majority of Australians who support marriage equality won’t have their voices heard on June 6 as expected”

Mr Croome, who has spent the week in Parliament House lobbying for marriage equality said support was currently at its highest level ever:

“Based on our meetings with Labor and Coalition MPs, as well a recent media reports, we know that support for marriage equality is at its highest level ever in parliament’s history. A number of Coalition MPs also expressed to us their empathic support for a free vote on the issue”

The remaining related issue that may still come up for a vote is Green’s Senator Sarah Hanson-Young’s bill to recognise overseas same-sex marriages in Australia.

“We hope the major parties will allow MPs the opportunity to vote to recognise same-sex couples who have already married overseas. With marriages beginning in France this week and in New Zealand in August this recognition is vitally important to of those couples” Mr Croome said.

Yesterday a Roy Morga Poll was released that showed support for marriage equality was at 65% and support for a conscience vote on the reform was at 79% (full details here: http://www.australianmarriageequality.com/wp/2013/05/28/media-release-new-poll-shows-4-out-of-5-aussies-want-coalition-free-vote-on-marriage-equality/ )
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Rodney Croome