ADVOCATES WELCOME STEP TOWARDS MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN NSW / MPS TO ADDRESS SYDNEY FORUM ON “WHERE TO?” FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Marriage equality advocates have welcomed progress towards state marriage equality legislation in NSW with parliamentary supporters of reform indicating they will introduce legislation early next year. (Report here)
Upper House members, Trevor Khan (Nationals), Penny Sharpe (Labor) and Cate Faehrmann (Greens) today gave notice they intend to introduce the State Marriage Equality Bill early next year.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Rodney Croome, said,
“With this important step forward, NSW MPs have re-inforced their commitment to marriage equality.”
“We are particularly pleased to see continued cross-party support for marriage equality in NSW because it sends a message to the rest of the nation that the issue transcends party allegiances.”
Penny Sharpe, Cate Faehrmann and Lower House Liberal, Bruce Notley-Smith, will speak at an Australian Marriage Equality forum this Sunday on the future of marriage equality (details below).
Because Bills cannot be co-sponsored in the NSW Upper House, Mr Khan, Ms Sharpe and Ms Faehrmann will each separately introduce the same Bill in the hope one will be debated.
NSW Liberal Premier, Barry O’Farrell, has allowed Liberal and National MPs a conscience vote on marriage equality unlike his national counterpart, Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott.
Marriage equality legislation passed the Tasmanian Lower House in August but was narrowly defeated in the state Upper House.
Legislation has been introduced in South Australia, Victoria and has been flagged in the ACT and Western Australia.
Constitutional experts, including Prof George Williams, have identified a constitutional loophole which allows states to legislate for same-sex marriage because the federal government doesn’t.
The forum on the future of marriage equality will be held at the Beresford Hotel, 354 Bourke St, Surry Hills from 3.30-5.30pm this Sunday Nov 25th. The forum will be addressed by:
Justin Koonin, (GLRL co-convener), Rodney Croome (AME national convener), Alex Greenwich (fmr AME national convener), Brin Hutchinson (Community Activists Against Homophobia), Penny Sharpe (NSW ALP), Cate Faehrmann (NSW Greens) and Bruce Notley-Smith (NSW Coalition)
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.