Federal Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the current Parliament may change marriage laws to allow same-sex couples to wed.
More than 30 couples, including some from interstate, took advantage of the five-day window to use the ACT’s law to tie the knot.
But on Thursday, the High Court in Canberra ruled that only the federal Parliament has the power to make marriage laws, declaring the ACT’s same-sex marriage law invalid.
Mr Turnbull says it is likely a private members bill will be introduced to Parliament proposing a change to the existing law, which allows marriage only between a man and a woman.
“I think it is very likely there will be a conscience vote agreed to by the Coalition party room,” he said.
Timeline: Same-sex marriage in Australia
Tuesday, October 2: The ACT’s Marriage Equality Bill passes the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Wednesday, December 4: The High Court reserves its decision on the Commonwealth’s challenge to ACT’s same-sex marriage laws.
Saturday, December 7: Australia’s first ever same-sex marriages take place in Canberra. The ACT Government says 46 same-sex couples have lodged papers to get married.
Thursday, December 12: The High Court rules the ACT’s same-sex marriage laws are inconsistent with the Federal Marriage Act and are therefore unconstitutional.
“As to whether that would result in the bill being passed, it’s probably a bit early to say because the new Parliament, there’s a lot of new members.
“But I think there is a reasonable prospect of a change to the law in this Parliament.”
Mr Turnbull says jurisdictions across the world are making changes to marriage legislation.
“I just note that if you look around the world you know the big English speaking countries we feel ourselves culturally close to, all of them now recognise same-sex marriage.
“New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada and now about a third of the United States.”
Photo: Dan Himbrechts
Author: ABC News
Publication: ABC News
Date: 13 December 2013
Original article here