ACT civil ceremonies to stay
The Australian Capital Territory may have brokered a deal to keep same-sex civil union ceremonies.
An ABC online report earlier today said the ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell had claimed victory on the scheme.
Corbell met with Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland on Monday to discuss the scheme with reports the Rudd Government was strongly opposed to it.
Gay and lesbian couples will now be able to hold legally binding ceremonies in front of a civil partnership notary in the territory.
The ACT and Tasmania are the only two jurisdictions in Australia to allow same-sex couples to include a legally recognised ceremony.
The ACT parliament passed legislation earlier this month expanding the civil union scheme to allow same-sex couples to have civil union ceremonies recognised.
Locals Chris Rumble and Warren McGaw are the first couple to ‘tie the knot’, holding a ceremony with family and friends in the Old Parliament House rose gardens yesterday.
