Opportunity for Hodgman’s Liberals to Come in From the Cold

The Tasmanian Greens today said that no matter the outcome of the Federal election, the state still has a critical role to lay in pursuing same-sex marriage.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said Tasmania was poised to offer the same marriage opportunities to same-sex couples, and benefit from the evident economic injection currently being enjoyed by New Zealand.

“The many Australian same-sex couples, their families and friends, New Zealand is encouraging to cross the Tasman to get married, should be able to cross Bass Strait and enjoy getting married in their own country,” Mr McKim said.

“It was fantastic to see the news coverage of these excited couples enjoying their big day with family and friends, but the repeated calls for Australia to catch-up as they would have preferred to marry at home were poignant.”

“New Zealand’s Tourism department is actively promoting and providing incentives to same-sex couples, their families and friends to travel to NZ to be married. This could have been Tasmania reaping that positive reputation and economic injection.”

“Australian and Tasmanian same-sex couples should not have to keep on waiting for their legislators to play catch-up.”

“The recent NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into same sex marriage found that, ‘there is no doubt that Australian states have the power to legislate on the subject of marriage.” [1]

“This will also provide Will Hodgman’s Liberals a second chance to stand up for civil liberties and love, and send a clear message to their federal counterparts that removing discrimination is a responsibility, not a ‘fashion trend’.”

The Greens’ motion will be debated tomorrow (Wednesday the 21st of August), with debate starting at 4pm, with the vote occurring at 5:20pm.

[1] NSW Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Issues, Same-sex marriage law in New South Wales, 26 July 2013; pg 71).
Text of Motion tabled by Greens Leader Nick McKim MP:
That this House reconfirms its support for marriage equality, and notes the following significant developments which have occurred since this Chamber voted in support of a Same Sex Marriage Bill earlier this year:

1. The NSW Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into Same-sex marriage law released its report last month which found, ‘the New South Wales Parliament has the power to legislate on the topic of marriage, including same-sex marriage’;

2. Further that this multi-party Committee states’ as an error of fact’ the argument that only the Federal Parliament has the power to legislate regarding marriage, stating that “there is no doubt that Australian states have the power to legislate on the subject of marriage”;

3. Congratulates New Zealand for joining the list of 15 international jurisdictions recognising same sex marriage, and already has approximately 300 expressions of interest in accessing those marriage laws;

4. Yesterday saw the moving and emotional marriage of two Australian men from New South Wales who had travelled to Wellington to formalise their 11 year relationship by getting married;

5. Further that this House recognises that those Australian same sex couples getting on planes across the Tasman, could have, and should have been getting on planes crossing Bass Strait to get married in their own country; and

6. Reaffirms support for Marriage equality in Tasmania.
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader