Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest has vowed to continue the fight to provide an avenue for same-sex couples to marry in Tasmania.

Ms Forrest’s bid to put the state’s same-sex marriage legislation back on the table was voted down 8-6 in the Upper House last night.

In a thinly veiled swipe at some of her Upper House colleagues, Ms Forrest said she was happy to be a leader on the issue.

“I think leadership is a good thing,” she said.

“It takes some courage, you get a few knockbacks and knockdowns but good leaders keep going.

“I’ll still be passionate about the issue.”

Ms Forrest had called on Upper House MPs to consider new evidence about the constitutionality of Tasmanian same-sex marriage.

“Support for the motion does not mean support for the Bill,” she said.

But new advice, from both sides of the debate, including advice from well-regarded barrister Bret Walker SC, who had suggested Tasmania could go it alone, failed to sway those who voted against the Bill in September last year.

Western Tiers MLC Greg Hall said “lawyer shopping is alive and well across all sides” but the people in his electorate were still opposed to the same-sex marriage legislation.

Elwick MLC Adriana Taylor raised concerns the Bill would introduce a new class of marriage that would not be equal because of different federal and state laws.

“This Bill will not give them a marriage certificate, in my view that is discrimination,” Ms Taylor said.

But her premise was slammed by Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome.

“That is a cop-out because she knows the current Federal Government has little intention of moving forward on this issue,” Mr Croome said.

“Therefore the only progress we can make is at a state and territory level.

“I think it is patronising of members to tell the gay community what we want … this is what the gay community wants.” The failure of the legislation to be reintroduced was celebrated by the Save Marriage Coalition, headed up by Liberal Party candidate Guy Barnett.

“It’s a victory for common sense and good governance,” Mr Barnett said.

“It’s time to draw a line in the sand.

It’s time to move on.” But Ms Forrest said she would consider bringing amended legislation back into the Tasmanian Parliament as early as next year.

Greens leader Nick McKim said the Greens would continue the fight, and pledged to re-introduce the legislation in the next term of parliament.

“Sadly we must now acknowledge that marriage equality will not happen in this term of parliament,” Mr McKim said.

“The Legislative Council has delivered mediocrity, and they have once again held our community back just when it was ready for change.

“Same sex couples were merely asking for the right to have the love in their hearts recognised in law, and the Greens did not think that was too much to ask.”

Photo: Chris Kidd
Author: Matt Smith
Publication: Mercury News
Date: 31 October 2013