SameSame.com.au ~ Inside Out Australia

SA Senators Say Unions Aren't Good Enough

Local News, By Joal, 26th June, 2009

The Greens are again pushing for same-sex marriage in Australia and believe a ground-swell of public support may help their case in parliament.

South Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, introduced a private members bill to the Australian Senate on Wednesday. The senator says her party’s push was influenced by recent public opinion polls that put support for gay marriage as high as 60 per cent, or two thirds of the population.

Australia currently has legal civil union ceremonies in the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania, but these are not necessarily recognised in other states. Senator Hanson-Young and various equality groups insist that civil unions are not enough.

“While last year we saw some historic leaps and bounds in removing discrimination against same-sex couples within this country’s federal laws, there was a glaring omission from that suite of legislation: marriage. It’s well and truly time our parliament rights this wrong and legislates for true equality,” said Hanson-Young in a statement released after her private member’s bill was put to parliament.

The senator will provide a petition with over 30,000 signatures to parliament in support of the bill.

“The Rudd Government can no longer hide behind the lame excuse of the community not being ready for same-sex marriages happening in Australia – it’s the Rudd Government who needs to catch up with public understanding.” Said the senator.

And it seems members of Rudd’s party would agree with The Greens. Labor Senator Ian Hunter made an impassioned plea directed squarely at Rudd in parliament last Thursday: “I want to get married. But I can’t. I can’t marry the person I love, not in my own country. Yes, I could travel to Massachusetts or South Africa and get married but I want to share my marriage with my family and my friends – like we all do.”

Equal Love, an organisation based in Victoria launched it’s own campaign for marriage equality yesterday with the Victorian Education Minister, Labor’s Bronwyn Pike, adding her voice to the mix.

“The ALP has a strong history of socially progressive reforms that it is proud of. We can always take positive steps by leading the way to eliminate discrimination and provide a ‘fair go’ for all Australians.” Said Pike yesterday, on the steps of Old Treasury in Melbourne.

Discussion of The Greens same-sex marriage bill in parliament has been adjourned, but people will have the opportunity to support the momentum of discussion at the National Day of Action for marriage equality on August 1. Equal Love will also be launching one web-based commercial a week in support of marriage equality in the lead up to the rally.