Advocates have called on both major parties to commit to protect the ACT’s right as a Territory to legislate for same-sex marriage.
Over 10,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Prime Minister not to intervene with the proposed reform, and both Labor Leadership contenders, Bill Shorten & Anthony Albanese, have been again called on to join the Greens to commit to blocking any federal government attempts to overturn the territory legislation.
Australian Marriage Equality, Deputy Director, Ivan Hinton said:
“The Territory Government’s right to deliver its mandate and enact laws for its citizens is at the core of this issue.”
“Shorten and Albanese, both supporters of marriage reform, have the opportunity to stand up for the territory’s rights and protect legislation that goes to labor’s core values of fairness and equality”.
“This is an historic opportunity that will enable same-sex marriages to occur on Australian soil for the very first time”.
“We call on the Government and Federal Labor to publicly commit to protecting the democratic will of the citizens of the ACT”.
A copy of the petition can be found here
For more information contact Ivan Hinton on 0419 124 826 or Brian Greig on 0411 122 232
Author: Ivan Hinton
Publication: AME Media Release
Date: 26 September 2013