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, […]
One of the major driving forces behind the ‘Yes’ campaign in Australia’s postal survey on marriage equality have responded to the successful ‘Yes’ outcome. The Equality Campaign have described the result as a “historic milestone for Australians and a victory for equality and fairness that sends a powerful message to Federal Parliament to legislate for […]
Seeing reports that some vocal opponents of Marriage Equality (including politicians, primarily those with a “religious” bent,) may well not accept a “YES” vote for marriage equality, I was reminded of a 2009 online opinion piece “An end to the right to discriminate” by Jim Wolfe, that I used when researching my submission to the […]
Pride WA have officially revealed the 2017 Pride Guide and launched this year’s festivities. President Andrew Barker began the proceedings by thanking Federal Senator Dean Smith, state MPs John Carey, Stephen Dawson and Michael Mischin, Town of Vincent Mayor Emma Cole and City of Perth Councillor Janet Davidson. Barker also acknowledged the hard work of […]
The Australian LGBTI Awards have released their short list of nominees ahead of the red carpet gala next year. This year over 6,000 Australian LGBTI+ people and allies were nominated across 16 categories, including Inspirational Role Model, Sports Personality of the Year and Community Initiative/Charity. Nominees include marriage equality activist Sally Rugg, author Benjamin Law, […]
Senator for Western Australia Dean Smith has strongly encouraged Western Australians who support same-sex marriage to attend a rally being held on Sunday at Wellington Square. Senator Smith said that with ballots being mailed out from this week across Australia, it was important now, more than ever, to reach out to family and friends […]
After meeting for two hours in an emergency session, the Liberal Party have agreed to stick with their election commitment to hold a public plebiscite on the issue of marriage equality. Following reports that Senator Dean Smith, and four other lower house MPs might cross the floor if allowed a free vote on the issue, […]
New reports have emerged of a marriage equality bill being drafted within the Liberal party as the debate heats up once again during Parliament’s winter break. Fairfax Media have reported that government backbenchers Trent Zimmerman and Western Australian Senator Dean Smith are collaborating on a bill to legalise marriage equality by parliamentary free vote, rather […]
