Civil unions a failed experiment: AME

Federal politicians have been urged by gay marriage advocates to oppose fresh proposals for a national civil unions scheme in Australia.

The move comes after a failed vote in the House of Representatives yesterday with little hope for the remaining three bills in the Parliament.

This morning, Queensland Liberal MP Warren Entsch refreshed calls for his civil partnerships bill.

It is understood he would wait until the same-sex marriage bills currently in Parliament had been voted on.

He told the ABC his proposed bill would provide a nationally recognised union between two people of any gender and shared all the legal rights of marriage.

“It’s not going to satisfy everybody but … there is a very large section of the community who would be more than happy to avail themselves to this alternative,” he said.

Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Alex Greenwich says marriage equality supporters must oppose civil unions since there were not a substitute for full equality.

“We will campaign hard against civil unions because they have proven to be failed experiment and have only delayed equality where enacted,” he said.

“The international experience is that they are a step away from marriage equality rather than a step towards.

“Mr Entsch is well intentioned but wrong if he thinks civil unions are the way forward.”

More than 20 countries have adopted civil unions or registered partnerships.