The Tasmanian Labor Party State Conference has re-affirmed its support for same-sex marriage.
A motion calling on the ALP National Conference to support marriage equality and oppose civil unions as a substitute for full equality for same-sex couples was passed overwhelmingly this afternoon with only a two delegates voicing opposition.
In 2009 the Tasmanian Labor Party State Conference was the first in the nation to support same-sex marriage. It has since been joined by all state and territory branches except New South Wales which deferred the issue to the Party’s National Conference.
Australian Marriage Equality spokesperson, Peter Furness, said,
“Tasmanian Labor’s support for marriage equality for a second time highlights the passionate support for this issue among Labor’s rank and file”.
“Tasmania has had a longer experience with civil union schemes than any other Australian state, so when it says such schemes are not a substitute for marriage equality the nation should listen.”
All speakers for the motion, put forward by a coalition of party branches including Young Labor and seconded by Senator Carol Brown, received a standing ovation from the conference floor, as did the final vote in favour of the motion.
The ALP National Conference is expected to debate marriage equality in December.
In 2003 Tasmania adopted Australia’s first civil partnership scheme. In 2005 it was the first state to debate state same-sex marriage legislation proposed by the Greens. In 2010 it became the first state to recognise overseas same-sex marriages in state law.
A copy of the motion is included below.
For more information contact Peter Furness on 0425 848 723 or Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Tasmanian State Labor Conference marriage equality motion, passed overwhelmingly, Sunday August 7th 2011:
This conference calls upon the ALP National Conference to amend the platform to support the legal right of all adult couples in Australia to be married if the they so choose, and for that marriage to be registered by law in Australia, regardless of the sexual orientation, or gender of the parties to the marriage.
This conference acknowledges that civil unions of same-sex couples do not deliver the same legal security and social recognition as marriage, and believes that schemes that are separate from marriage makes the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and the intersex community second-class citizens.
Furthermore, we call on all delegates at the national ALP conference to vote in favour of marriage equality.
For more on civil unions, and why AME opposes a national civil union scheme, click here.