Commonwealth to override ACT civil unions

The federal government has announced it will overturn the ACT’s recently passed civil unions law, sparking condemnation from gay rights activists.Commonwealth attorney-general Philip Ruddock announced the plans today, saying the ACT laws undermined marriage.”We have decided to defend the fundamental institution of marriage against the laws that were passed here in the Australian Capital Territory,” Ruddock said, ABC News reported. “The Marriage Act makes it clear that marriage is a u