Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has announced that the government will not be repealing civil unions, but will also amend the law to exclude state-sanctioned ceremonies.

The Premier has said the act will be amended to bring the legislation into line with other states, and to remove official ceremonies which “mimic marriage.”

“We have considered a paper from the Attorney-General and there was a lengthy discussion about the way to go,” Newman said in a press conference on the issue today.

“Same-sex couples have legal rights under common law. We looked interstate and looked at what people have been saying after the election.

“Cabinet will bring amendments to parliament that will keep the legal rights of civil partnership, but not allow for a state-sanctioned ceremony.”

‘’They lose nothing from this change,’’ Newman added, referring to the members of the LGBT community who had fought hard for the right to register their relationships.

Newman noted that the state-sanctioned ceremonies that were what offending Christian groups opposed to civil unions, explaining that today’s decision was showing “good faith” to the Christian groups who lobbied on the issue.

When asked what his personal views were on same-sex marriage, Newman was reluctant to answer, simply saying: ‘’You know my views… Yes, I’ve said them before.’’

Last year Liberal National Party MPs voted against the the civil union legislation when it was introduced, and noted that the party was opposed to changing the definition of marriage.

During the formal election campaign, Newman said the party would look at repealing the law, but added that he did not want to leave couples in legal limbo.

The legislation came into effect back in February and saw both same-sex and heterosexual couples registering their relationships with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and also holding a ceremony if they chose to.