Here’s the scene this afternoon as GetUp! and Australian Marriage Equality presented a massive pro-marriage equality petition of 140,285 signatures to the Labor Party National Conference in Sydney Convention Centre.

The photo above shows Finance Minister Penny Wong there to welcome to petition, with ACT Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr, who is the Convenor of the Rainbow Coalition of Labor delegates who support gay marriage, and Australian Marriage Equality National Convener Alex Greenwich.

See more of our photos here:

The petition reads:

Prime Minister Gillard, delegates to the ALP National Conference: Not allowing same-sex couples to marry denies them and their families legal equality and perpetuates discrimination and prejudice. The overwhelming majority of Australians support full marriage equality and it is the right thing to do. Marriage matters: amend the Commonwealth Marriage Act so that same-sex partners can be wed.

“This petition confirms what polls already show – Australians say ‘I Do’ to marriage equality,” says Greenwich.

“The Australian public has spoken and I’m confident Labor is listening.

“If, as predicted, the Labor Party changes its platform to support marriage equality it will be a victory for love over prejudice and for equality over discrimination.”

“This weekend delegates to the Labor Party National Conference will vote on whether or not legislated discrimination is acceptable to the Australian Labor Party and to the Australian people,” says GetUp! National Director Simon Sheikh.

“Petitions like the one we have presented today and consistent polling show that the majority of Australians support this change and it is fundamentally the right thing to do, so it’s time for delegates to step up do the right thing, to end inequality under the law.

“Many delegates have already expressed their support for change, not only is this welcome but it also provides young gay and lesbian Australians with hope that one day they will be able to live the life of their dreams,” he adds.

Other ALP figures who accepted the petition include:

Richard Wynne MP, Shadow Minister for Local Government and State Member for Richmond
Jane Garrett MP, Member for Brunswick
Laura Smyth MP. Federal Member for La Trobe
Lara Giddings, Premier of Tasmania
Jamie Newlyn, SA Branch Secretary
Penny Sharpe MLC (NSW Shadow Minister for Transport)
Andrew Barr MLA (Deputy Chief Minister ACT)
Senator Louise Pratt (Labor Senator for WA)
Anthony Albanese MP (Federal Member for Grayndler and Minister for Infrastructure)
Senator Gavin Marshall (Labor Senator for Victoria)
Doug Cameron (Labor Senator for NSW)
Steve McCartney (State Secretary, AMWU WA)
Katrine Hildyard (Branch Secretary, ASU SANT)
Alanna Clohesy (President, WA Branch, ALP)
Hon Jon Ford MLC (Parliament of WA)
Hon Dr Sally Talbot MLC (Parliament of WA)
Sally McManus (Secretary, ASU)