Senate marriage inquiry count underway
Although the official final count is unknown, more than 20,000 submissions have been received by the Senate Inquiry into same-sex marriage.
The Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009, introduced by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young earlier this year, was referred to Senate Committee in July and accepted submissions up until August 28.
There seems to have been a flurry of last-minute submission writing. Sydney Star Observer reported at the end of July only five submissions had been collected opposing gay marriage and 1400 had been received in favour of repealing the current ban.
A Senate Committee spokeswoman told Sydney Star Observer on Monday around 23,000 submissions had been received, however, the Committee now has to go through them and check for duplicates which will most likey reduce the number.
The spokeswoman wouldn’t be drawn on which side received more submissions, saying it appeared “50/50” at this stage and the count would continue well into this week, and likely beyond.
Australian Marriage Equality estimate some 10,000 submission have been made for same-sex marriage.
The last inquiry into same-sex marriage attracted around 14,000 submissions, one of the highest submission numbers recorded for a parliamentary inquiry.
The Government is due to report on November 26.
Sydney Star Observer will update when more information is available.
Karl,
I would not throw eggs or paint on him. I wish I could. Sometimes I long for the days of Act Up. Acts of violence are wrong and only lead to painting a bad picture for fence sitters like you said.
It is really frustrating though. My friends went to meet Julie Guilard at a new mothers meet and greet the local member event. She was shocked in the outer suburbs of Melbourne two gay dads were there and widely accepted by all, and were the centre of attention. The other mothers loved them. Some were Morman’s, Catch the Fire Ministries and other fringe Christian religions who openly advocate hate against people who are homosexual. It sent a message that we are out there and accepted. They said Juilie was overwhelmed and surprised.
What my friends did has the best impact. They were the guys on 60minutes with two baby’s. I will tell Kevin Rudd I am outraged I am not protected by equal opportunity, and he meets with Hate Groups that call us a cancer. I will talk of my first partner who was bashed to death by people inspired by the hate groups he supports. I will encourage him to address Mardi Gra’s 300,000 voters and his support of gay marriage.
David when you meet Kevin Rudd make your point with words. Acts of violence aren’t cool, don’t work and only work to turn fencesitters against us. There is a party behind him as well, if they don’t pressure him we should pressure them.
I vote for the Greens so have no brief for the Liberals, however, I do believe if we had a strong Opposition with well-thought out policies then Rudd’s popularity would sink like a stone thrown into water.
What a total letdown Rudd, Gillard, Wong etc. have been: all talk and very little action – oh, except for a lot of backpeddling.
I am really sick-to-death of politicians and their religion. Look at Della Bosca in NSW the other day – ‘I’m really sorry I embarrassed my friends, family and my church.” FFS!
Further, I have to meet Kevin Rudd at a function later this year. Does anyone know a good Red Paint Brand? Does eggs work better? Please help.
Thanks!
This is fantastic news!
My partner and I were one of the first people to lodge, and got busy telling all of our friends to do the same. Most people at our Baptist congregation also lodged in support of us.
For the times they are changing. The Christian Hate parties are becoming a minority. I just wish our Happy Clapper Prime Minister would stop supporting these hate parties. I would not trust children with Kevin Rudd or them. He is a bad role model. http://www.acl.org.au/national/browse.stw?article_id=28624
The Senate Count is happening while Kevin Rudd begs for the vote of hate groups promising to be just as hateful as they are. He is giving a talk about families and children in the context of talks about keeping homosexuals away from Children. he will be side by side with George Pell.
Kevin Rudd is so out of touch with reality supporting hate groups and trying to stop us. I wish he would just go back to eating his ear wax at home and keep out of public life all together. What a bloody disgrace labor is for having the such a fucked person as Prime Minister.