The Equality Campaign today welcomed the release of the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017 that allows civil marriage equality to now become a reality.

Anna Brown Co-Chair of The Equality Campaign said the Bill is in keeping with the roadmap set by the bipartisan Senate report agreed on earlier this year.

“This brings hope to the many lesbian and gay Australians and their families, friends and colleagues, who just want to be treated equally under Australian law and marry the person they love.

“All Australians should have the same opportunities for love, commitment and happiness. We’ve been waiting for marriage equality for a long time and now our politicians have the opportunity to make it a reality with a Bill that reflects the hard work and extensive consultation undertaken by a Senate committee earlier this year.

“This is about civil marriage. No religious sacrament is impacted in anyway. Religious leaders will still have the right to conduct their marriage ceremonies in line with their doctrines and beliefs,” Anna Brown said.

Co-Chair of Australian Marriage Equality, Alex Greenwich said the bill represents the most robust and genuine approach to achieve marriage equality that the parliament has even seen. Its passage will fulfil the hopes of loving and same-sex couples to get married, and truly reflect Australia’s shared values of fairness and equality.

“This legislation provides the parliament with a historic opportunity to come together and deliver on the settled will of the Australian people,” Alex Greenwich said.

“This Bill provides a real chance for parliament to introduce marriage equality in line with the long held wishes of the nation,” said Tiernan Brady, Executive Director, The Equality Campaign.

“It is easy in the middle of all the politics to forget what or rather who this is about. Marriage equality is about real people, our friends and family, teammates and work colleagues who just want the same dignity as everyone else in their families.

“All across Australia people have proved to parliament that their campaign for marriage equality will not go away or go quiet. People need to contact their MPs and tell them now is the moment to allow all Australians equality dignity,” Tiernan Brady said.
Clint McGilvray