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Content about Australian parliament

May 4, 2013
Australian Opposition Leader called out on opposition to free vote on marriage by activists

Australian equal marriage activists say that if Australian Opposition leader Tony Abbott is so sure few of his MPs will vote for marriage equality then why not let them

Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has ruled out a free vote in the Australian Parliament on same-sex marriage before 2016 if he is elected Prime Minister and says that so few of his MPs would vote for it that it would not pass now.

'I don't think anyone should expect that this is necessarily going to come up in the next parliament,' Abbott told Fairfax newspapers.

December 21, 2012
Australian marriage equality advocates send Christmas message

Marriage equality advocates in Australia are encouraging people to talk about the importance of marriage equality when they spend time with their family these holidays

High profile Australian supporters of marriage equality have joined forces to encourage people to talk about the importance of letting gays and lesbians marry when they spend time with family this holiday season.

A new online video campaign by advocacy group Australian Marriage Equality (AME) features Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings, Labor Senator Louise Pratt, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, former Australian Medical Association head Professor Kerryn Phelps, independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich and NSW Greens Legislative Council member Cate Faehrmann.

December 20, 2012
Australian first as sitting MP marries partner in Spain

South Australian MP Ian Hunter has become the first Australian politician to enter into a same-sex marriage while in office

South Australian state MP Ian Hunter has married his long time partner Leith Semmens, in the process becoming the first Australian politician to enter into a same-sex marriage while in office.

The couple travelled out of Australia, which still bans same-sex nuptials, to the Spanish city of Granada for their ceremony, which was presided over by the mayor of the municipality of Jun, Jose Antonio Rodriguez Salas.

17 friends and relatives travelled to Spain for the ceremony, which the couple told AFP was not in anyway a political stunt.

December 6, 2012
Aussie MP's gay marriage in Spain broadcast live

South Australian politician Ian Hunter will marry partner of 20 years in Spain despite the union not being recognized in his own country

A gay South Australian member of parliament will tie the knot with his boyfriend in Spain because his country does not yet recognize same-sex marriage.

Politician Ian Hunter and artist Leith Semmens will walk down the aisle in the Spanish town of Jun on 19 December.

The couple moved the date forward from January after the Australian Parliament rejected a proposal to legalize gay marriage.

October 11, 2012
Motion to stop challenges to state gay marriage laws fails

A motion to stop Australian federal government from challenging states’ same-sex marriage laws fails

A parliamentary motion to stop the federal government from challenging state same-sex marriage laws has failed in the Australian parliament.

Marriage equality proponent Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young brought the motion to the Senate today but it was defeated by 38 votes to 10.

September 24, 2012
Counter claims on Tasmanian same-sex marriage law’s legality ahead of vote

Anti-gay marriage group is using legal advice to claim a Tasmanian law would be unconstitutional

An Australian Christian group has been circulating a legal opinion amongst members of the Tasmanian Upper House that claims state legislation creating same-sex marriages would be unconstitutional ahead of a vote on the issue on Wednesday, but a leading Australian constitutional law expert says the issue is anything but settled.

September 10, 2012
Aussie MPs doubtful about gay marriage

Debate in Australian parliament indicates there is not enough support to pass same-sex marriage bill

A two-hour debate over a same-sex marriage bill in the Australian parliament today indicated that there is not enough support to change the law.

MPs from across the political spectrum expressed doubt over the passing of the bill, despite many saying that they support it.

Liberal frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull said he would vote for legalizing gay marriage if he was allowed to vote freely on the issue, but leader of the opposition Tony Abbott has said all Liberal-National coalition MPs must vote against the bill.

August 23, 2012
Another Australian jurisdiction to legalize same-sex marriage

Another Australian jurisdiction has announced it will legalize same-sex marriage if the  government refuses to act

Another Australian jurisdiction has announced it will legalize same-sex marriage, while at a federal level, Australian Government senators have introduced their own private members bill to legalize same sex marriage.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which houses the Australian capital of Canberra, today announced it would legalize same-sex marriage at a territory level, joining the states of South Australia and Tasmania who have also pledged to do so.

April 13, 2012
Majority of Aussies say 'I do' to gay marriage

Christian likens gay marriage to incest at senate inquiry despite historic support for reform

A senate inquiry into legalizing gay marriage in Australia has revealed 'unprecedented' support for reform.

Figures released today (13 April) by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee show that almost 60% of Australians are in favor of allowing same-sex couples to marry, with 44,000 out of 75,000 submissions in favor.

April 3, 2012
Record-breaking numbers support marriage equality bill in Australia

Advocates say at least 45,000 submissions in favour of same-sex marriage were submitted to senate inquiry

A same-sex marriage bill that is currently the subject of a senate inquiry in the Australian parliament has become ‘the most strongly supported Bill in the nation's history’ according to advocates.

Campaign group Australian Marriage Equality (AME) say that at least 45,000 submissions in favour of same-sex marriage were sent to the senate inquiry into the issue, four times more than the overall number of submissions received by the next largest inquiry into the Northern Territory Euthanasia Bill in 1997.

January 30, 2012
Australian parents ask for vote on marriage equality

Parents ask that their gay children are allowed the right to marry in new TV ad

A TV advert aired across Australia from today features real parents of gay people asking that their gay sons and lesbian daughters be given the right to marry.

January 24, 2012
Australian marriage equality one step closer

Senator Hanson-Young announces she will bring marriage bill to senate committee

Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young announced today that she will bring a marriage equality amendment bill to the senate's legal and constitutional affairs committee when the Australian parliament reconvenes on 7 February.