The Premier, Lara Giddings, today commended the ACT on becoming the first Australian jurisdiction to legalise same-sex marriage.
Ms Giddings said she hoped the landmark vote would help pave the way for other states, including Tasmania to end discrimination against same-sex couples.
“This is a great day for same-sex couples who have had to wait too long to be afforded the right to express their commitment to each other in the same way as everyone else,” Ms Giddings said.
“And it is a great day for campaigners and advocates for change like me who believe that there is no reason why this discrimination should exist in the 21st century.”
Ms Giddings said while it was disappointing that Tasmania’s own laws had failed last year, there was still hope that the issue would be revisited in the Legislative Council.
“The Tasmanian legislation only failed by two votes and I hope that this decision by the ACT Parliament will give some MLCs cause to rethink their position on the issue.
“It is not too late for Tasmania to be the first state to allow for same-sex marriage.”
Ms Giddings called on the Federal Government to recognise the mood for change and not to try to move against the ACT laws in the High Court.
The ACT result follows recently successful votes in New Zealand, France, Uruguay and the UK, along with the US states of Maine, Maryland and Minnesota.
Lara Giddings Premier
