Marriage equality advocates have welcomed the beginning of the marriage equality debate in the Senate, but cautioned that reform will only happen when supporters work together.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said,
“The Senate will now begin the conversation about marriage that so many Australians have already had, and it is one about family, equality, and fairness.”
“We believe the Senate is the right place for the marriage equality debate to advance because it has some of the parliament’s strongest advocates and has conducted the most comprehensive and supportive inquiries.”
“However, we are concerned that there are now two competing marriage equality bills before the Senate, because the overseas experience shows when marriage equality supporters don’t cooperate the reform is much harder to achieve.”
“We call on those Senators who support equality to work together to achieve a reform that is passionately supported by a clear majority of Australians”.
This afternoon Greens’ Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, will bring on her Marriage Equality Bill for debate.
A second private members bill allowing same-sex marriages has also been introduced today, co-sponsored by Labor Senators Louise Pratt, Gavin marshall, Carol Brown and Trish Crossin.
There are already two separate bills before the House of Representatives – one from Labor backbencher, Stephen Jones, and one from Greens’, Adam Bandt, and Independent, Andrew Wilkie – bringing the total number of marriage equality bills before federal parliament to four.
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335