CALL FOR COALITION FREE VOTE FOLLOWING BERNARDI OUTBURST
“If Senator Cory Bernardi is allowed to air his offensive views on marriage equality with impunity, it’s only fair Coalition Senators who support equality should be free to vote for this Bill.”
– Ivan Hinton, AME, deputy director
Ahead of tomorrow’s Senate vote that could recognise overseas same-sex marriages, advocates have presented a 14,000 strong petition supporting the move and have called on the Coalition to allow a conscience vote.
Australian Marriage Equality deputy national director, Ivan Hinton, said,
“A majority of Australians want our country to follow New Zealand and other nations towards marriage equality and this is an important first step in that direction.”
“The fact our law disregards the solemn vows of lifelong commitment made by those Australian couples who are forced overseas to marry is disrespectful to these couples and to the countries that allow them to marry.”
“If Senator Cory Bernardi is allowed to air his offensive views on marriage equality with impunity, it’s only fair Coalition Senators who support equality should be free to vote for this Bill.”
Tomorrow the Senate is due to debate a Bill from South Australian Greens’ Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, removing the ban on recognising overseas same-sex marriages that was inserted in the Marriage Act in 2004.
Labor is expected to allow a conscience vote on the issue while the Coalition has voted as a bloc against marriage equality up until now.
According to the last Census at least 1,300 Australian same-sex couples are married overseas.
Advocates predict the number will increase dramatically once same-sex marriages begin in New Zealand the Britain later this year.
Fourteen countries allow same-sex couples to marry. Several countries, including Japan and Israel, recognise overseas same-sex marriages even though they do not solemnise such marriages themselves.
The Australian Government’s ban on issuing same-sex couples with the documents they need to marry overseas was lifted in February this year.
For more information contact Ivan Hinton on 0419 124 826 or Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Author: Ivan Hinton
Publication: AME Media Release
Date: 19 June 2013