Senator Dean Smith’s Marriage Bill has passed through the lower house of parliament, bringing marriage equality into Australian law. Following the ‘Yes’ result of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey the co-sponsored bill has been hotly debated for the last two weeks, but remains unchanged by amendments from conservatives and The Greens. Amendments put forward […]
The House of Representatives has finished the second reading of Senator Dean Smith’s Marriage Bill and progressed to discussing a series of proposed amendments to the legislation. Three days of speeches from over 100 members of parliament came to an end this morning. Among the hundreds of speeches that have been delivered over the last […]
Marriage equality advocates have praised the Greens for new attempts to reduce discrimination towards LGBTI+ Australians in Senator Dean Smith’s co-sponsored marriage bill. The House of Representatives’ sole Green MP Adam Bandt said he will re-introduce amendments to the bill to limit exemptions that allow discrimination in wedding services against marrying couples, including same-sex couples, […]
Fourteen of Australia’s leading religious leaders have co-signed a letter urging politicians to insert significant amendments in the marriage bill. Last week conservative MPs attempted to add additional clauses into Senator Dean Smith’s private members bill for marriage, arguing that widespread protections are needed for freedom of speech, conscience and religion. Despite many amendments being […]
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he will support some amendments to Senator Dean Smith’s cross-party marriage bill when it reaches the House of Representatives next week. The bill, which was debated over three days in the Senate this week, passed the upper house unamended – despite numerous attempts from Liberal Senators James Paterson, David Fawcett […]
Western Australian Liberal Senator Dean Smith has confirmed that if Australia delivers a ‘Yes’ response when the results of the marriage postal survey are announced on Wednesday, he won’t be wasting any time introducing his marriage bill to parliament. Senator Smith announced he intends to introduce his marriage bill on Thursday. Senator Smith announced his […]
Growing frustration with the lack of change to Australia’s marriage law was evident at the Equal Love’s marriage equality rally that took place in the Perth CBD today. An estimated 500 people took to the streets today in a protest that circled the city centre and included a mass sit down on William Street that […]
Both England and Wales have voted in favour of same-sex marriage, with a Commons vote taking place last night that went in favour of The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill by 400 to 175. Despite the majority being strongly in favour of the bill; almost half (136) of the Conservative MPs voted in opposition. Both the […]
For those of you feeling frustrated by the recent loss for same-sex marriage rights in Federal Parliament, a recently emerging site provides all of the details of politicians who opposed the bill. The 98 against website names and shames every politician who opposed the bill, and also provides a picture, as well contact details ranging […]
