Hundreds of same-sex couples already getting married in Australia

NEWLY released figures have revealed hundreds of couples are already getting married on Australian shores.

British consulates across the nation are regularly conducting same-sex wedding ceremonies, a process that is entirely dependent on one person in the couple possessing UK citizenship.

The British High Commission revealed that they have conducted 283 same-sex marriages and have converted 128 civil partnerships.

The stats show that the Sydney consulate has officiated the most ceremonies with 108 same-sex marriages. Melbourne follows with 78, Perth with 52, Brisbane with 24, and Canberra with 21.

The British are the only consulate in the country who are conducting same-sex marriages, after Australian Marriage Equality lobbied the Australian government particularly hard to allow it.

This is a service they have been providing since 2014.

Tony Brennan, the Deputy British High Commissioner, spoke about the demand for these ceremonies with the Sydney Morning Herald last year.

“We thought there might be a rush when the legislation was passed,” Brennan said.

“We thought demand would then slow down, but it has not.”

Couples married in the British consulates are still considered unmarried in Australia. The right to marry in Australia has been a much talked about issue lately, with a seemingly inevitable plebiscite on the issue looming on the horizon.