Same-sex marriages performed at British embassies and consulates have been occurring on a regular basis since they first became an option in June 2014.
Yesterday Thomas Sharpe and Koko Firman Ariyanto married in Sydney. They were the 200th couple to take advantage of the British laws and have a wedding in Australia.
Australian Marriage Equality National Director, Rodney Croome congratulated the couple on their nuptials describing it as a landmark moment for both them and Australia.
“I congratulate Thomas Sharpe and Koko Firman Ariyanto on what is a landmark moment for them and for Australia.” Mr Croome said.
“Thomas and Koko’s wedding is the latest of 200 reminders of the absurdity of Australia’s discriminatory marriage laws.”
“It’s ridiculous that couples can get legally married in UK consulates and then be legal strangers the moment they walk back on to Australian soil.”
“For the 400 Australians married in UK consulates, the recent tragedy in South Australia where a grieving husband was denied basic dignity and recognition, will be a stark reminder of the discrimination they sought to escape by being married under UK law.”
“To ensure couples married in UK consulates are treated fairly under the law, the Government must act quickly on marriage equality by allowing a free vote in parliament as soon as possible.”
Australia has been the most popular place for British citizens to get married outside of the UK. It was revealed in the British parliament in 2015 that in the first year of same sex marriages being performed in British consulates, 77% occurred in Australia.
Australians with dual citizenship however are not the only ones choosing to wed in Australia, with some British couples travelling to Australia to have their weddings closer to family and friends.
Tying the knot at the British Consulate this afternoon was Scottish couple Graham Spence and Marc Sneddon.
The couple decided to have their wedding Australia so friends and family could be invited to the ceremony. Marc and Graham have been escaping Scotland’s cold winters for many years now with annual trips down under.
“We’ve been coming to Australia for about 15 years now,” Graham told OUTinPerth straight after the ceremony, “I’ve got family here , my brother and his wife live over east in Brisbane, we’ve got good friends in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, and Marc’s sister moved out to Perth four years ago.”
The couple said they were totally shocked that marriage equality has not been achieved in Australia but decided to taker advantage of the laws which now allow British citizens to wed at British embassies and consulates.
‘Fifteen years a go when we first came to Australia we though Australia was so far ahead, but in the last few year’s it’s really gone backwards.” Graham said.
“I know the people really want it, and it makes you wonder why it hasn’t happened.”
The couple said they hoped by choosing to have their wedding in Australia more people would see the need for equality for all people.
Last year the Abbott government announced a national plebiscite would be held on the issue of marriage equality , a policy that new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull agreed to continue when he deposed Mr Abbott a few months later.
Despite the Prime Minister telling parliament that the government would honour outcome of the proposed plebiscite, in recent days a division has emerged in the government ranks.
Liberal senators Eric Abetz and Cory Bernardi, alongside Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie have declared they will vote against marriage equality regardless of what the plebiscite reveals.
Rodney Croome said the senators declaration would turn the expensive plebiscite process in nothing more than a costly opinion poll.
“Australians will not take kindly to spending $160 million on what is basically a very expensive opinion poll.” Mr Croome said.
“Clearly, divisions in Coalition ranks have not been smoothed over by the plebiscite proposal, so instead Malcolm Turnbull should allow a free vote in parliament. That way, Australia can quickly resolve this issue and move on.”
OIP Staff
