Tas govt rejects gay marriage

Tasmania’s state parliament yesterday refused to hold an inquiry into state-based same-sex marriage.

The Tasmanian Greens moved a motion to send their same-sex marriage bill to a parliamentary committee, but both the government and the opposition voted against the move.

Attorney-General Judy Jackson argued that the state does not have constitutional power to amend marriage laws, ABC News reported.

However Greens justice spokesman Nick McKim said he had legal advice from a constitutional lawyer to the contrary.

The Labor and Liberal parties have unfortunately voted against even discussing laws to allow same sex couples to express their love for each other by getting married, he said.

And that is just an outrageous thing to do. Voting against equality, against fairness and voting to entrench discrimination.

When the legislation was first introduced by the Greens in April this year both major parties voted against the principle of same-sex marriage.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said both supporters and opponents of the reform deserve a chance to have their voices heard on the issue.

It’s appalling that, first at a national level, and now at a state level, both major parties have said no to even discussing the issue.

Australia is one of the few western democracies yet to have a rational and informed community and parliamentary debate on same-sex marriage.”