WA Greens push for marriage

Marriage equality legislation has been introduced into the Western Australian Parliament today, making it the sixth state or territory to do so.

WA Greens MLC Lynne MacLaren introduced the Marriage Equality Bill 2012 into the Upper House but debate on the bill is not expected until next year when WA Parliament resumes.

She first announced her intention to introduce the bill in September.

MacLaren told the Parliament she hoped someday soon Australians would wonder what all the fuss about same-sex marriage was about.

Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Rodney Croome welcomed the new bill and said it would strengthen relationships and families.

“We welcome the introduction of this legislation because it will remove discrimination, and strengthen relationships and families,” he said.

He said the bill would also allow WA couples to have a certificate to prove their relationship rights if and when they were challenged.

“The movement for allowing same-sex marriages at a state level is gathering momentum and I have no doubt we will see same-sex couples marrying somewhere in Australia in the next few months” he said.

Tasmania, the ACT, South Australia, Victoria, NSW and WA have or had marriage equality bills in their parliaments.

“Someday soon I hope we will look back on this same-sex marriage debate and wonder what all the fuss was about, and wonder how such inequitable and prejudicial laws could prevent someone from marrying the person they love and how we could have allowed them to persist for so long,” MacLaren told the Parliament.