ACT civil unions overruled

The federal government has overruled the ACT’s new civil unions law, with the legislation to be invalidated from midnight tonight, 13 June.The governor-general, Michael Jeffrey, gave his approval this morning to a commonwealth recommendation that the law be overturned.The government made the move because it said the ACT law equated civil unions with marriage, and ACT government amendments to the legislation were insufficient.The ACT government had cut the civil union waiting period so couples could form unions before the federal overrule took effect, but the law had not taken effect before the veto.Activists have vowed to fight the overrule, calling for a conscience vote in federal parliament.The Democrats are proposing an amendment to the federal Marriage Act that would reverse the same-sex marriage ban passed in 2004. The bill is due before parliament this week.