Govt to hold marriage session

Govt to hold marriage session

The Australian Federal Parliament will hold a special session in August to allow MPs to report the results of their efforts to seek their constituents views on same-sex marriage.

In November last year a motion put forward by the Greens MP, Adam Bandt, was passed by the Parliament that called on MPs to seek the views of their electorates and report back to the Parliament.

On the afternoon of August 17 in the Parliament’s main committee room, MPs will give three-minute speeches outlining what the consensus on the issue is in their electorate.

The special session of Parliament falls just four days after the seventh anniversary of the Federal Parliament’s amending of the Marriage Act to explicitly ban same-sex marriage with the support of both major parties.

The August 13 anniversary will be marked by rallies for same-sex marriage across the country as part of a National Day of Action on Marriage Equality.

Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national convener Alex Greenwich welcomed the move.
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“This will be an unique occasion for MPs to share the heart-felt conversations that they have had with their electorates,” Greenwich said.
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He hoped MPs reports would reflect the quality and quanity of support for marriage equality.
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“Every poll tells us that a majority of Australians support marriage equality, and we also hope that MPs also share the with the parliament the personal stories that many mums, dads, couples and community leaders have told their local members in support of equality,” Greenwich said.
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In the meantime, supporters of marriage equality have been urged to contact their MPs and express their views  via a webform established by AME.
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AME have already logged 120,000 emails sent to MPs in support of marriage equality through the webform.
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4 responses to “Govt to hold marriage session”

  1. Australians need to support a Bill Of Rights also. It is looming as a major issue.

    Our freedom of speech and internet censorship is being eroded by this Red Terror, and her Government at a fast pace. All we have left is freedom of expression.

  2. The problem I have with this is it relies on the honesty of politicians.

    The consultation is “Not independently verified”. We have a only a politicians word. Malcolm Turnbull says a majority of his constituents support Same-Sex Marriage yet he decided not to support it. No doubt he is wanting to rock the leadership of Tony Abbott so it was a stunt. My local National Party member told many lies saying no person ever contacted him when I had correspondence.

    Then we are to rely on Julia Gillard. She is in the Lodge due to the numbers in the Catholic SDA Union. She is faced with supporting equality before the law for all Australians, or not being the Prime Minister of Australia.

    At a minimum I guess it keeps the issue alive.

  3. Hmm, I wonder what the reporting will deliver and I hope it is moderated to weed out the actively negative and I hasten to say, ultra minority view of the ACL.

  4. all this drama for something that should just be so so simple… no wonder nothing is happening in this country…

    Gillard’s “government” is too busy running in circles to be ‘moving forward’