60% OF SUBMISSIONS TO SENATE INQUIRY SUPPORT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL MOST POPULAR LEGISLATION IN PARLIAMENT’S HISTORY
CHRISTIAN LOBBY CLAIMS ABOUT SUBMISSION QUALITY DISMISSED
The Senate inquiry into marriage equality has received an unprecedented 75,000 submissions with 44,000, or almost 60%, in favour of allowing same-sex couples to marry.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national convener, Alex Greenwich, said this makes the same-sex marriage bill currently before the Senate the most popular legislation ever to come before the Australian Parliament.
“The unprecedented level of support for this legislation reflects the fact that a majority of Australians support marriage equality and support is passionately”, Mr Greenwich said.
“The take-home message for our federal politicians is that the Australian public wants this reform and wants it now.”
Mr Greenwich dismissed claims by the Australian Christian Lobby that submissions sent via online platforms were somehow less well “reasoned” and less “thoughtful”.
“It’s rather desperate for the ACL to claim that a submission is more “reasoned” and “thoughtful” simply based on the medium it was submitted through,”
“As the Senate inquiry itself has acknowledged, many of those people who sent a submission through websites like AME’s and Get Up’s included their personal stories about why marriage equality is important to them and their families.”
“These personal stories – some of which have already been published by the Senate inquiry – make a compelling case for reform.”
Today, the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee released figures for the number of submissions to its inquiry into the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill introduced by Australian Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young.
Of a grand total of 75,000 submissions, which the Committee itself describes as “unprecedented”, 44,000 (or 59%) were in favour and 31,000 against.
Polls show that between 60 and 65% of Australians believe same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
Support for marriage equality came from across the social, religious and political spectrum with submissions being made by prominent Labor figures including Lara Giddings, Kristina Kenneally and Ian Hunter, and from prominent Liberals and Nationals like Trevor Khan, Don Harwin and Chris Puplick.
Yesterday, the House of Representatives marriage equality inquiry heard evidence at a hearing in Sydney from supporters and opponents of the issue. Submissions to this inquiry close on April 20th.
For the Senate inquiry’s report on numbers of submissions:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=legcon_ctte/marriage_equality_2012/submissions.htm
For a list of faith leaders who support marriage equality:
https://www.australianmarriageequality.org/2012/04/04/42-multi-faith-clergy-call-for-marriage-equality/
For a report on yesterday’s hearing:
http://gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/news-2/5900-no-one-writes-love-songs-about-civil-unions-federal-marriage-inquiry-told.html
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.