The Australian Greens have renewed calls for the federal parliament to recognise same-sex marriages performed overseas following the decision by the Victorian Government to recognise these marriages in their state.
The Victorian Government announced yesterday that it will allow same-sex couples married overseas to be entered into the state’s relationship register. To be eligable one of the partners must be a Victorian resident.
Greens LGBTIQ and Marriage Equality spokesperson, Robert Simms, said it’s time for the Federal Government to act.
“While this provides good news for same-sex couples in Victoria, nationally the federal government still lags behind,” Senator Simms said.
“We still have a situation where same-sex couples are denied the right to marry on Australian soil and, to add insult to injury, if they go overseas to marry, this isn’t recognised by their government when they return.”
Senator Simms said the country needed to have a consistent approach to recognising same-sex marriages and urged the federal parliament to follow Victoria’s lead.
“We need a consistent approach to this issue at a national level.”
Senator Simms comments come one day after The Greens leader Dr Rchard Di Natale told OUTinPerth that the Prime Minister had failed as a leader by conceding to conservatives within his own party over the issue of marriage equality.
Rodney Croome, the National Director of Marriage Equality Australia has welcomed the Victorian decision but also argues that federal legislation allowing for same sex marriage to occur in needed to avoid a confusing variety of laws being introduced on a state by state basis.
“Recognising overseas same-sex marriages as state registered relationships provides couples with a degree of legal security, but it does not provide the full recognition and dignity that can only come with equality under the federal Marriage Act.” Mr Croome said in a statement.
“The fact that overseas same-sex marriages will be recognised in three states but not in the others highlights the patchwork of relationship laws same-sex couples have to negotiate, as well as the need for marriage equality to redress this problem.”
“With Victoria coming on board, a majority of Australians live in states that recognise same-sex marriages and it’s time for the federal government to do the same.”
OIP Staff
