Marriage equality advocates say a report on the issue tabled in parliament today is a step forward that will encourage MPs to support reform.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said the report clears up the key concerns of some MPs, for example, by making it clear churches will not have to marry same-sex couples.
“This report will convince many of the MPs who are still ambivalent or undecided about marriage equality to support the issue because it clears up many of their outstanding concerns”, Mr Greenwich said.
“The report’s positive message will be magnified by the fact that it has the unanimous support of both the Labor and Coalition MPs who sat on the inquiry.”
The unanimous report from the House of Representatives Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee does not make any recommendation for or against same-sex marriage legislation, but it does makes it clear that:
- religious celebrants will not have to marry same-sex couples if they do not wish to
- both sides of the debate value marriage and family
- people of faith have divergent views, and in Australia there is a separation between church and state
- the legal definition of marriage has changed over the course of Australian history including the enactment and subsequent removal of bans on marriage between indigenous and non-indigenous people
- outstanding constitutional questions should not be a barrier to same-sex marriage legislation
- de facto relationships and civil unions do not equate to marriage and do not provide equality
The report notes that over a quarter of a million responses were sent to the Social Policy Committee inquiry, “the largest received in the history of federal parliamentary committees”, with a strong majority of 64% or 177,663 submissions, in favour of marriage equality.
Mr Greenwich said the response to the inquiry shows not only that Australians support reform but that they support it passionately.
“We urge MPs to see the overwhelming, positive response to this inquiry as a sign that Australians from all walks of life and every part of the country want to see reform occur as soon as possible.”
The report recommended minor changes to the two same-sex marriage Bills currently before the House of Representatives.
The committee chair, Graham Perrett, and committee member, Laura Smyth, made additional comments in which they noted,
“the expectation of a separation of church and state in Australian society. We are satisfied that this is not compromised by the amendments proposed in either bill. Australia is a nation that respects the diversity of its citizens. In considering social change and the shape of Australia’s future, the Parliament must both lead the nation and appreciate the values of a modern nation.”
A copy of the report can be downloaded from here:
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.