Greens’ state marriage push

Greens’ state marriage push

The Greens say they will take their fight for marriage equality to the states.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young was in Melbourne today along with Greens candidate for Melbourne Brian Walters to announce, that if elected, Walters will introduce legislation to allow same-sex marriage in Victoria.

“Yes we need a national approach, of course we need [to allow] all Australian’s the opportunity to marry the person they love,” Hanson-Young said.

“But, if we can’t get the movement we need in the Federal Parliament, we need to make sure Victorians have the opportunity to have equality.”

Walters, himself a barrister, confirmed the party has sought advice from University of NSW constitutional expert George Williams to help develop a bill.

“Same-sex love is not second class love, it’s as valuable and as important, and as in need of support by the community as heterosexual love,” Walters said.

“The Commonwealth Parliament has passed laws in relation to marriage that say all we’re doing in the Commonwealth Parliament is heterosexual marriage, so they’ve left open to states, the power to make laws in relation to same-sex marriage.

“We invite [Premier] Mr Brumby and [Opposition Leader] Mr Baillieu to say it will be a conscience vote in relation to that issue, when the bill comes through.”

The Herald Sun today reported Brumby declined to offer an opinion on the issue, stating he believes it to be a federal matter.

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4 responses to “Greens’ state marriage push”

  1. It is an irony that Bob Brown, once a GP in Tasmania who was hounded for being openly Gay, formed the Greens with his friends and now has such power he might well be able to stop the bastards.

    Bob dared to dream of a better future. Where you could live freely and not be persecuted because of your sexuality.

    We now dream the dream with Bob. I want all the majestic colours of the rainbow celebrated. I want an end to laws that oppress all in the GLBTI Community.

    I believe one day, in the near future, we will be free of laws founded on hate and intolerance. We will be able to marry our partner, have children, no government bother us but celebrate us. Where we have choice to live freely as others now do who do not share our sexuality.

    Bob pushes and pushes for all of us. To that I say thank you Bob, thank you Greens.

  2. Whilst is was great to finally get Mark Arbib’s support, I wonder if he saw the writing on the wall for the avalanche of state-based marriage coming, & tried to stop it by instead giving us a carrot of “possible” federal marriage.
    Bring on the avalanche I say, & snow the whole country over one state at a time, & we’ll get federal marriage much much sooner.

  3. Tony Abbott and Julia Gilalrd tell us to respect those that seek to oppress us and deny us freedoms. They have the liberty to marry their loved one, the person they build their life with, yet they seek to deny us this opportunity for no other reason then our sexuality. They demand we respect the haters.

    I want to know when will the Labor and Liberal Party acknowledge that we exist and their are victims of such foul laws. That we need respect. That we deserve respect. We are good people struggling with unjust laws.

    The Greens are the only Party in power that does not have an issue with our sexuality. They do not ask we respect those that hate us, or seek to oppress us. They only ask we be free of oppression and persecution.