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Anti-Discrimination
Same Sex marriage
Tuesday, 02 May 2006
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Unlike Spain, Canada and other parts of the world, only straight couples are allowed to marry in Australia. The Greens believe social institutions such as marriage should meet the needs of all people in our society.
That means same-sex couples should have the right to marry if they so wish. That's why the Greens are working to ensure that all couples regardless of sexuality or gender have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples.
Lee gave notice that she would introduce three bills into the NSW Parliament covering same sex marriage issues on 4 May 2005. These bills are not yet drafted, but they will be largely based on the bills that Tasmanian Greens MP Nick McKim has introduced into the Tasmanian Parliament.
Same-Sex Marriage Bill 2005 provides for marriage between adults of the same sex.
Same-Sex Marriage (Celebrant & Registration) Bill 2005 provides for the establishment and maintenance of registers of same-sex marriages and same-sex marriage celebrants.
Same-Sex Marriage (Dissolution & Annulment) Bill 2005 provides for the dissolution and annulment of same-sex marriages.
Given the community outcry that occurred when the major political parties voted to ban same sex marriage last year, together with the on-going campaign by many Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people to have the Commonwealth Marriage ban repealed, and the wide support the Greens have received for our campaign, we are confident that the time is right to step up our work for same sex marriage at a State level, particularly as the Federal Parliament will be controlled by conservatives for the first time in decades.
These bills are not set in concrete until they come before the Parliament and that is quite a way off.
Our office in conjunction with the Greens LGBTI Working Group is campaigning for same sex marriage rights. Give us your feedback on the bills and the campaign.
Email your contact details and comments to .
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