Exactly a year has passed since the Australian High Court put the onus on the federal parliament to allow same-sex marriages yet the federal government continues to stall the reform by refusing a free vote.
On December 12th 2013 the High Court struck down the ACT’s Marriage Equality Act as unconstitutional and declared for the first time that the federal government has the constitutional power to allow marriage equality.
Australian Marriage Equality deputy director, Ivan Hinton-Teoh, said,
“The High Court of Australia ruled that the institution of marriage is evolving in nature, that it now includes same-sex couples in many jurisdictions around the world and, importantly, asserted conclusively that the federal government has the power to legislate.”
“But even though it’s been clear for a year that the federal government has the power to legislate for marriage equality, it is not clear that the government has the heart to achieve this important reform.”
“We call again on Tony Abbott to allow a free vote on marriage equality so that the Federal Parliament can progress a reform already achieved by our closest allies including the UK, New Zealand and the US.”
31 couples married under the ill-fated ACT Marriage Equality Act had their marriages wiped from the records after the federal government challenged the ACT law in the High Court. Several of these couples have shared their thoughts on the anniversary, below.
For more information contact Ivan Hinton-Teoh on 0419 124 826 or Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Author: Ivan Hinton-Teoh
Publication: AME Media Release
Date: 12 December 2014
Partners in ACT marriages reflect on the first anniversary of their marriages being dissolved.
Sam Wilson: “A year ago today I married my soulmate and best friend. One of the most amazing days of my life. Come on Australia, get with the times and let me have my wife back.”
Alan Player: “All our family and friends still recognise us as a married couple. It is touching that they don’t see us being anything other than this. In our hearts we are. Unfortunately we are not under any laws in Australia. There is still work to be done.”
Annette Cairnduff: “One of our favourite photos from our wedding is one with our kids, niece and nephews and the children of our friends who were there. They range from 3 – 25, so the ‘next’ generation if you like. When we look at that photo our great hope is that they, if they choose to are able one day to get married to whomever they love.”
Glenda Lloyd: “Our wedding was a wonderful celebration of love and commitment which we shared with our family and friends. It was devastating when only five days later it was overturned. We’ve since married again in the USA, but anxiously await the day when our marriage is recognised in our own country.”
Mandy Crocker: “The NZ government afforded us a dignity that the Australian Government took away. They put us “back together” as a married couple”.