GOVT SHOULD “LEAD BY EXAMPLE”

AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Media Release
Tuesday November 20th 2012

GOVT SHOULD “LEAD BY EXAMPLE” BY EXTENDING ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITMENT TO INCLUDE MARRIAGE

Marriage equality advocates have welcomed a new draft national anti-discrimination law that protects gay Australians from unfair treatment in employment and services, and have called on the Government to extend its commitment to ending discrimination to the Marriage Act.

Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Rodney Croome, said,

“Australians are against discrimination including discrimination in marriage.”

“We welcome the Government’s commitment to ending discrimination against Australians in same-sex relationships and call on it to extend that commitment to ending discrimination in the Marriage Act.”

“The Government should lead by example, respecting the same standards of fair and equal treatment that it expects the community to uphold.”

Mr Croome said an important first step would be for the Government to recognise overseas same-sex marriages, which are not currently recognised under Australian law.

“The draft anti-discrimination law prohibits discrimination on the grounds of ‘relationship status’ and we believe that principle should extend to legally recognising overseas same-sex marriages in Australia.”
Rodney Croome