Senate votes against amendments to Smith marriage bill

Senators have shut down proposed amendments to Senator Dean Smith’s co-sponsored marriage bill in the upper house today, after two days of debate.

Amendments put forward by Liberal Senator David Fawcett that would see two separate definitions of marriage, and allow for conscientious objections for civil celebrants to deny service to LGBTI couples, were shut down by 41 members from Labor, The Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team and Derryn Hinch.

Some Liberal members also voted against the amendments including Minister for Defence Marise Payne, Minister for Education Simon Birmingham and the bill’s namesake, Senator Smith.

One Nation, David Leyonhjelm and the Australian Conservatives’ Cory Bernardi joined other Coalition senators in voting for the changes.

Debate is expected to resume in the Senate at 4pm EST.

OIP Staff