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 South Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has introduced a private member’s bill in Federal Parliament to grant same-sex couples equal marriage rights in Australia.
Along with the Bill, Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on sexuality and gender identity, tabled a 30,000-signature petition in support of legalising same-sex marriage.
“The Greens’ Marriage Equality Amendment Bill can bring Australia into the league of other forward-thinking nations who recognise that all couples should enjoy the right to marry,” Hanson-Young said in a statement.
Hanson-Young said while last year’s changes to legislation saw improvements for same-sex couples, equal marriage rights were “a glaring omission”.
“It’s well and truly time our parliament rights this wrong and legislates for true equality,” she said.
Ending discrimination against same-sex couples married overseas was a second focus of the bill.
“It’s ridiculous that a same-sex couple married in Canada, for example, can step off the plane at Sydney International Airport and have their marriage considered invalid,” Hanson-Young said.
The Senator cited the recent Galaxy Poll, commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality, which showed 60 per cent of Australians agree that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry in Australia and said the Rudd government needed to “catch up with public understanding.”
“Australia cannot truly hold its head up high while celebrating diversity and exhorting the virtue of acceptance without equal marriage laws,” she said.
Debate on the bill has been adjourned.
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