SA Greens MP Tammy Franks said the passage of the same-sex motion in the upper house showed the issue had support across the political divide.

The South Australian parliament has backed the idea of same-sex marriage ahead of a move to introduce legislation.

Parliament’s upper house on Wednesday passed a motion congratulating New Zealand on its marriage equality laws.

Introduced by Labor MP Gerry Kandelaars, it passed by just one vote, with the support of two members of the Liberal opposition.

The vote came ahead of Thursday’s introduction of a bill in parliament’s lower house to introduce same-sex marriage laws in SA.

Labor MP Susan Close will bring the bill to parliament with government MPs to be given a conscience vote.

Premier Jay Weatherill has already indicated he will vote in favour.

Australian Marriage Equality South Australian convener Harley Schumann said the bill would allow the SA parliament to achieve what it had just congratulated New Zealand on achieving.

“We look to South Australia leading the way on this important reform should similar legislation continue to fail in the federal parliament,” he said.

SA Greens MP Tammy Franks said the passage of the same-sex motion in the upper house showed the issue had support across the political divide.

She urged Opposition Leader Steven Marshall to also allow Liberal MPs a conscience vote on the legislation to go before the lower house.

Ms Franks said it was untenable for the Liberals to allow a conscience vote on a motion in the upper house but not allow one when it came to reforming the laws.

New Zealand’s parliament passed a bill in April for same-sex marriage to be legally recognised from August 19.

Author: AAP
Publication: The Sydney Morning Herald
Publication Date: 20 June 2013