PM challenged on ‘mean-spirited’ policy

PM challenged on ‘mean-spirited’ policy

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has defended her Government’s policy of refusing gay and lesbian Australians the Certificates of No Impediment (CNIs) to wed, which they need to marry overseas.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie complained in Parliament this afternoon that “the Government refuses to issue CNIs to same-sex couples seeking to marry in countries allowing same-sex marriage despite the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee recommending in 2009 that the Government should do so — in the understanding that Australians overseas should comply with the laws of the country they are visiting.”

“Prime Minister, the ban on issuing CNIs to same-sex couples looks petty and mean-spirited. Will you lift it?”

In response, Gillard claimed that CNIs were about Australian law not foreign laws, contradicting the committee’s findings.

“What a certificate of no impediment means is that there is no impediment to the recognition of that marriage under Australian law,” Gillard said.

“Given that under Australian law through the Marriage Act a marriage is between a man and a woman it would not be proper to issue a certificate of no impediment because in truth we do not have the mechanism under current law to recognise a same-sex marriage overseas.”

Gillard acknowledged support for same-sex marriage among MPs and the wider community, but said the Government’s position would not change.

“I’ve made my views very well known, and the position of the Government is also very well known, but I am under no illusion that members in this place and members of the Australian community more broadly have different views on the question of same-sex marriage as is the way of things in our great Australian democracy.

“I’m sure we will continue to debate that. But with the Certificates of No Impediment to wed, it would only be proper to issue those if Australian law changed. Of course my view and the view of the Government is that there should be no change in Australian law in the terms of the Marriage Act.”

Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Alex Greenwich said Gillard’s claims were concerning.

“She continues to be misinformed on an issue which is growing in importance for same-sex couples in Australia,” he said.

“A CNI is a document that a foreign country requires for something that will occur in a foreign country — it has nothing to do with Australian law. Should an Australian citizen be convicted in a foreign country, we in most cases respect that law but should an Australian want to marry in a foreign country that is when the Government chooses to step in and stop it from happening.

“I think Mr Wilkie is right to refer to the Government’s policy in this regard as being petty and mean-spirited.”

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18 responses to “PM challenged on ‘mean-spirited’ policy”

  1. This ——-> Should an Australian citizen be convicted in a foreign country, we in most cases respect that law but should an Australian want to marry in a foreign country that is when the Government chooses to step in and stop it from happening—–> So as far as Julia Gillard is concerned its perfectly acceptable to respect international law when an innocent Australian citizen is imprisoned, yet she will do everything in her power as a less than mediochre Prime Minister to stop 2 people who love each other from marrying under another country’s law!
    Anyone know the definition of narrow minded, bigot?

  2. C’mon Gillard – if ‘tradition’ were any reason to oppose change, you wouldn’t have a job!

  3. err… umm… what? the australian government might not recognise our marriage but they bloody well can’t stop it. ontario authorities required no such document when we got married there.

  4. To those wondering why Gillard is being so mean and nasty, it is important remember what she said when questioned about denying people the right to marry–to go look up lessons in the bible.

    At Gillard’s wedding there will be no person of religion. She is having a Civil Marriage.

    Federal Labor is an Asbestos cancer to our lungs. They poor hatred on us and support Christian fundamentalist that rip us from wheelchairs at equality marches. For we do not have the right to get medical care, when we are old and sick, purely because of our sexuality, let alone having the right to marry. It is Federal Labor that does not include us in the Equal Opportunity Act. Nursing homes discriminate, as do many publically funded institutions.

    I recall when the Albury Xavier High School published a newsletter calling on us to be removed from the face of the Earth. Gillard was Education Minister and wrote to me saying how important it is to fund religious schools.

    If you want equality prepare for war. Gillard is sneaking around, even scared of her party conferences. There a thousand creative ways our community can come together and draw attention to Gillard’s arrogance.

    http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/pm-julia-gillard-gay-marriage-against-my-upbringing/story-e6freuy9-1226025009815

  5. Yes, a frustrating, mean and seemingly pointless obstacle to Australia moving closer to equality.

    I understand the anger of some posting on this site but attacking the woman personally really isn’t going to help the situation and is counter-productive.

    Not voting for her will get the message across, but who are you going to vote for?

    Don’t believe for one moment that the Coalition will take a different stance on this issue! Keep in mind the Liberal Victorian government just made changes in parliament that now allows church groups to discriminate openly when it comes to employment. This type of behaviour is inherent in the Liberal psyche, who have even more difficulty than the current government to separate church and state. If anything, a vote for the Coalition will probably result in even deeper levels of discrimination.

    Petition your local Labor members and encourage them to return to their Left roots. Labor is currently far too deep in the Right, which I think is a key reason why they are so lacklustre as a government.

    Alternative two: vote for the Greens. At the very least they understand the discrimination at the core of the major parties (and your valuable vote won’t go to someone who think of us as second class citizens).

  6. dont worry people… the end of her career is nigh…and she will have left nothing to be proud of

  7. Obviously, Julia is a bitchy talker, and on a par with Margaret Thatcher. They are both ambitious, cruel and obsessed with their hair.

    She is not a doer or should be respected, and has done much damage to the office of Prime Minister. She must go.

    No wonder Kevin Rudd refers to the Lodge as, “Boganville”.

    Bugger off out of our lives Julia, and take your freeloader first man with you.

    Both of your sexualities are highly suspect.

    Wonder if Timmy knows what really goes on in many, married men’s sheds.
    Always has been a safe place away from the wife, to while away time with your life-long male mate, and play with the Tools.

  8. It’s really simple, I could get all mean and nasty about her and her government but the more practical thing to do is simply to withhold my vote. I will not vote for someone who refuses me basic human rights, if you are not gay then you need to think about what it would be like if Prime Minister Julia Gillard took a stand against your right to marry as a heterosexual.

    It is preposterous and naive of her and she is frankly stupid to alienate such a large portion of Australian citizens, their families, friends and supporters.

    I am embarrassed by this government, it is behaving very badly on many fronts not the least of which is the refugee situation. No it will not have my support as things stand now.

    Robin

  9. I really don’t understand why the Government has such a big problem with same sex marriage and I wish someone would explain it to me. We’re not talking about religion here, it would be a purely secular legal marriage as I understand it, so what IS the obstacle??? And I don’t want to hear from anyone that it’s because our PM is ‘a bitch and a liar’. That’s just bitter rubbish talk. There’s got to be some sort of quasi-logical reason but I haven’t been able to discover it yet. Anyone?

  10. I agree Ric. It would appear that the taxes i pay on my investments are more than good enough for this government (and i pay up big, every year) but IF i chose to wed my partner, even overseas where it is legal, im not good enough and will be denied that opportunity. Maybe we should stop lodging our tax returns? Fuck em. As for Gillard, the second her 60 minutes interview started i changed channels.

  11. It’s good enough for this pathetic government to demand my Husbands fincial affairs in MY tax return because we are a bona fide couple under Australian Tax Law, but refute recognition of my lawful Dutch Marriage. Australians are fed up with these meaningless double standards that constitute nothing more than discrimination.

    Our Federal Member, Mr Albanese was happy to offer that this issue is just not big enough among voters.

    Not Good Enough Julia!

  12. She def needs the ACL/christian vote cause no one else is gonna vote 4 this bogan whore who sits unweded, living in sin with a hairdresser from shepperton in our Lodge.
    Couldn’t get more tacky than that.
    She is just a big fraud who plays off indifference, misery and discrimination. I hope Labor just collapses in a heap and goes down in flames, they are truely disgusting, and she represents everything that is mawkish and sickly and vile about the ALP.

  13. DITCH THE BITCH
    She’s a LIAR.
    The role of a CNI is to confirm to a foreign government that an Australian who wants to marry under its laws is not already married in Australia.

  14. She def needs the ACL/christian vote cause no one else is gonna vote 4 this bogan who sits unweded, living in sin with a hairdresser from shepperton in our Lodge.
    Couldn’t get more tacky than that.
    She is just a big fraud who plays off indifference, misery and discrimination. I hope Labor just collapses in a heap and goes down in flames, they are truely disgusting, and she represents everything that is mawkish and sickly and vile about the ALP.

  15. When people vote on these stories what are they actually voting for? At the moment this article is rating 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Does that mean all those who’ve voted agree with Gillard’s stance. Or do they just think Andie writes well?

    Personally I voted 1 because I think the vote should reflect what the article is about.