SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN THE ACT

The ACT Parliament has passed the Marriage Equality Same-Sex Bill 2013.

The vote proceeded along party lines, with Labor and Greens MLAs voting in favour and Liberal MLAs voting against.

ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell moved 25 amendments to the bill to shore up its likelihood of surviving a constitutional challenge from the federal government, and standing orders have been suspended to allow him to do so.

ACT Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson opposed the suspension and questioned why the amendments were being “rushed through” at the “eleventh hour,” given that Corbell had previously given assurances that no amendments were necessary.

“Four minutes before the deadline yesterday we received these amendments…they are not in order in accordance with this Assembly’s standing orders. It gives me very little confidence that this will result in a piece of legislation that will withstand the test it will face in the High Court,” Hanson said.

Hanson’s objections, however, were overridden by another vote.