Marriage bill returns
The Greens have re-introduced their Marriage Equality Bill in the Senate this week, delivering on a promise made during the federal election.
Greens spokeswoman on Sexuality and Gender Identity, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young told Southern Star Observer, “I will re-introduce my Marriage Equality Bill, as promised, at the start of the new Parliament.”
Hanson-Young moved a notice of motion for the bill on Tuesday, so the bill could be introduced at the first available opportunity.
Hanson-Young said that with reform of parliamentary procedures and public opinion strongly supporting same-sex marriage, the time for a parliamentary debate on the bill was now.
“The election campaign made clear that one area where the community wanted to see change was the removal of discrimination against same-sex couples preventing them from marrying the one they love,” Hanson-Young said.
“With enough community support for this campaign and increasing parliamentary pressure over the next few months, we can achieve a conscience vote for all parliamentarians — and a true reflection of where our Parliament stands on delivering equal marriage for all Australians.”
Hanson-Young called on supporters of marriage equality to write to their MPs and senators if they wanted to see a conscience vote on the bill.
Australian Marriage Equality national convenor Alex Greenwich welcomed the Greens’ re-introduction of the bill and echoed the call for a conscience vote.
“Sarah Hanson-Young’s bill is a simple and straightforward solution to those discriminatory sections of the Marriage Act which ban same-sex partners from officially declaring their love,” Greenwich said.
“Surely members of the federal Labor and Liberal parties have more important things to do than stop same-sex partners committing to each other.
“The electorate has given the Greens a clear mandate to pursue marriage equality … we hope that this time senators will be allowed to do more to show their support than just not attending the vote.”
Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby co-convenor Sarah Rogan told SSO she hoped the bill would receive a greater level of debate.
“I’m happy the re-introduction of the bill has been done so quickly,” Rogan said.
“We’re hoping for a better outcome this time around.”
Rogan said the Lobby also supports a conscience vote on the issue to allow MPs to have their voices heard.
info: www.sarah-hanson-young.greensmps.org.au/content/petition/reintroducing-marriage-equality-amendment-bill
Sally- The Liberal Party has done a lot for the gay community. Strip searches and rape at the Tasty NightClub, mass raids with no evidence at parties, and hidden cameras in the toilets of gay venues. This is not to mention supporting the Australian Family Association saying homsexuality is a Cancer. Life under the Victorian Liberals was joy with all this. Let us also not forget sex on site venues having people with video cameras burst open your door and show everyone. They have moved on as Tom should know. Remmeber recently Jeff Kennett saying employing one of us is like employing a child sex offender. All this while they clap along to the Hillsong Church and the Australian Christian Lobby. Why would anyone not vote for all this?? I am sure the Liberal Party is not just full of gay hating scum, there are some good poeple, just hard to find I guess. Perhaps Tom is a diamond in the rough.
(from Sally as an individual)
Tom
Give
me
a
break
Please at least make a disclosure of interest re your Liberal Party position before making ridiculous statements about another politcal party like those above
http://www.sstar.net.au/news/2010/07/09/mcfeely-awaits-liberal-party-decision/12549
I suppose I can find the glass half full – the sudden interest in marriage is touching given previous statements that “you don’t support it”
http://www.theage.com.au/national/libs-want-gay-hotel-owner-for-state-seat-20100508-ul2x.html
As for supporting the community, regardless of which party it is, the Greens as an organisation have done far more for the GLBTI (emphasise) community than you and the Peel have done for the GLBTI community.
And in that light, now seems as good a time as any to ask again for an answer on something. Why include gender identity in your Equal opportunity exemption for the Peel when trans and intersex were not causing any problems? Please acknowledge that the overkill of this unneccessary exemption sets a precedent that makes life harder for trans and intersex. In this light, please spare us the crocodile tears about who cares for the community – the “community” is more than pink-dollar gay males.
Why oh Why did the Greens not use their power in doing their deal with Labor to force this issue? ANY MP can introduce a bill, that means little if the main parties don’t back you. Why does the gay community continually fall for the Greens public stunts on formal gay recognition? This is simply another stunt. I challenge Sarah or indeed Bob Brown to explain to me why when they had the CHANCE to FORCE the issue they didn’t. Again I say, the Greens have conned the Gay community. Talk is cheap Sarah. Perhaps you should have spoken to Bob before he sold his soul to Labor.
I’m a little disappointed by Southern Star not posting a link to the petition, should readers actually WANT to sign the petition (I’ve already signed it).
What a shame.
Ed’s Note: We have now. Apologies for the oversight.
It will be interesting to see if this moves beyound a publicity stunt. Both Labor and Liberal parties have stated at this stage they will not allow a conscious vote, indicating they would rather cuddle up to Jim Wallace and George Pell.
It will be interesting to see if this moves beyound a publicity stunt. Both Labor and Liberal parties have stated at this stage they will not allow a conscious vote, indicating they would rather cuddle up to Jim Wallace.