State Government should apologise rather …

… than recommit to state-based marriage laws that are unconstitutional

The State Government should apologise rather than recommit to state-based marriage laws that are unconstitutional Guy Barnett, Liberal candidate for Lyons and lawyer said today.

“The commitment by the Labor/Green state government to reintroduce same-sex marriage laws in the next parliament beggars belief in the light of yesterday’s High court unanimous decision saying state and territory laws on marriage are in conflict with federal marriage laws and unconstitutional.

This government has thumbed its nose at the people who have again and again rejected the push for same-sex marriage and now it is thumbing its nose at the High court.

The High court said marriage is a matter for the federal parliament. Full stop end of story. If the proponents of same-sex marriage want something other than ‘marriage’, well that is up to them.

The High court has made it abundantly clear that our marriage laws are made in the federal parliament and must be consistent throughout Australia. Any change will require federal parliament to act. The court said “It is necessary to bear steadily in mind that the federal Parliament has power under s 51(xxi) to make a national law with respect to same sex marriage.”

It is time for the Tasmanian government and proponents of same-sex state-based laws to apologise for wasting the precious time and resources of the government and the parliament over the past three years.

Tasmanians are crying out for a government focused on our economy and jobs rather than a commitment to reintroduce same-sex marriage laws in the next parliament.

“Attempts by same-sex marriage advocates to continue pushing state and territory-based laws are nothing more than a political stunt.

The federal parliament has already voted down same-sex marriage laws in September 2012 with a more than two to one majority.

With the matter now definitively decided by the High Court, I call on the Tasmanian government and same-sex marriage advocates to stop peddling their social agenda and focus on issues like the economy and jobs.” Mr Barnett concluded.
Guy Barnett, Liberal candidate for Lyons and lawyer