The Australian Capital Territory government has hit a snag in their goal for marriage equality.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said he would like to see the legal details despite ACT Attorney General’s assurances the move is legal.

Despite the move, West Australian Greens Member for the South Metropolitan Region Lynn MacLaren has said she will introduce a similar bill in Western Australia.

“So members of the LGBT community can be entitled to the same rights as everyone else in this state” she said.

“I introduced the last marriage equality bill in the state and the argument of it being unconstitutional has since diminished, I’m interested to see what argument those in opposition dream up next.”

The move was backed by the Greens spokesperson for LGBTI issues Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

“The Greens’ Abbot-proofed the ACT’s marriage equality legislation in the last term of Government… today we congratulate the ACT Greens for driving marriage equality legislation,” she said.

There was a standing ovation from the public gallery when the bill was introduced into parliament and it is expected marriage between same sex couples will be legal by the end of the year.

OIP Staff