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Thursday May 17, 2012

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Gay marriage bills go to parliament

Posted by: 2UE | 13 February, 2012 - 1:32 PM
More married people are discovering their attraction to same sex

On the eve of Valentine's Day, three federal politicians have taken the first steps toward changing the law to allow all couples, regardless of sexual orientation, to get married. Paul Murray with Throsby MP Stephen Jones.

Two separate bills to legalise same-sex marriage were introduced in federal parliament on Monday, first by Australian Greens lower house MP Adam Bandt and independent Andrew Wilkie, and then by Labor's Stephen Jones.

The bills aim for the same result but differ in their wording, with the Greens bill appearing slightly more sensitive in language - adding the word "equality" - compared with Mr Jones' more straightforward legislation.

The lower house on Monday also began debating a motion from Mr Wilkie that asks politicians to ensure any amendments to the Marriage Act to broaden the definition of marriage to mean a union of "two people" instead of a man and a woman, did not force churches to marry same-sex couples.

 

 

Labor & the Greens have presented gay marriage bills to the Lower House of parliament today. But debate and a vote on the issue could still be months away.

Nationals Senator Ron Boswell believes both pieces of legislation are likely to be defeated, and says that's a good thing.


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Blog comments Your Say

  • The same arguments used to justify same-sex marriages can be used to justify Polygamy, Incest, Beastiality, group marriage etc. Once the fundemental idea of marriage as one man and one women is tossed out, any and all types of sexual unions become permissable.
    Please Labor/Greens, think of our children and do not go down this pat

    John Wednesday 15 February, 2012 - 12:51 PM

  • I think a lot of the good work Labour has done on pricing carbon, economy, NBN, will be wasted because of two policies - one is changing the marriage Act, and the other is supporting offshore processing.

    Terrence Wednesday 15 February, 2012 - 12:11 AM

  • Yeah too right! Ungrateful minorities - just like when we gave aboriginals citizenship and women the right to vote!!!
    Since when should minorities have any say in their lives!! I reckon we should make them all wear a special badge and live in a special zone...oops someone thought of that before!!

    just me Tuesday 14 February, 2012 - 7:24 PM

  • Why are we debating that we should acknowledge such an unhealthy lifestyle. The Greens are bent on this and our children will be the ones to suffer when they get taught that same-sex relationships is condoned by the government, think what sort of books they`ll get to read at school.

    John A Tuesday 14 February, 2012 - 3:36 PM

  • Julia Gillard said prior to being elected as PM that she would not change the Marriage Act. The Greens are steering her and she and her party are not wise enough to say NO.
    Why are they removing the words " to the exclusion of all others" from the Act as well ?
    What will they be telling our children at school if this goes ahead ?

    John A Tuesday 14 February, 2012 - 9:41 AM

  • When has a lifestyle choice had any relationship to marriage? Millions of people live together without the legal state of being married. This is just another "Minority" wanting something for the sake of wanting it, it provides nothing, it's worth nothing, it accomplish's nothing and it is just another big beat up by another of the countries growing number of professional whiners.

    Peter Tuesday 14 February, 2012 - 9:25 AM

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