Australian Capital Territory to legalise same-sex marriage by end of year

The Australian Capital Territory government is set to legalise same-sex marriage by the end of the year and chief minister Katy Gallagher told Guardian Australia that she doesn’t expect the federal Coalition government to overturn the legislation.

The Labor administration of the territory will put forward a bill that will enable gay marriage, following a decade-long attempt to legislate in the area.

Seven years ago, the John Howard-led government used its federal powers to overturn an ACT move to allow same-sex civil unions. The ACT has since reinstated civil unions.

The legislation is set to be an early test for the prime minister elect, Tony Abbott, who has consistently opposed same-sex marriage but has held out the prospect of a vote on the issue at some time in the future.

Gallagher told Guardian Australia that she didn’t expect the Coalition to intervene to prevent gay marriage in the ACT.

“We’ve been pretty clear on this issue for some time now and there’s overwhelming community support for this,” she said.

“Any intervention won’t be easy and we certainly don’t want to be the first test of the new Senate. I think opposition to this has softened within politics in acknowledgment of the fact that the community has shifted its view in favour.

“This issue has had a chequered history in the ACT. We had to deal with the Howard government’s opposition and then craft something that prime minister Rudd could live with, due to his opposition. But if this passes the assembly, I see no reason why it won’t be law by the end of the year.”

The federal government’s power over the territories has changed since Howard used his executive veto. A repeal of ACT marriage equality would have to pass both houses of the federal parliament, presenting a potentially tricky challenge for the Abbott government.

Gallagher said that she expected the ACT’s stance on marriage equality to be replicated across Australia.

“I can see Tasmania is making a good effort in this area but we will be the first,” she said. “I would expect that something will be put to the federal parliament in this term. The Labor party has led this debate nationally and I expect more and more people to support it. We have waited long enough for this.”

On Thursday, the Australian Christian Lobby urged federal Labor not to introduce a private member’s bill to legalise same-sex marriage.

“Any analysis of [the] election must take into account that this issue was front and centre of Labor’s campaign but failed to attract votes amongst the broader Australian community,” said Lyle Shelton, managing director of the ACL.

“Mr Rudd’s bullying of Christian pastor Matt Prater on Q&A [in the week before the election] has caused many people to worry about freedom of speech and freedom of belief should the law on marriage be changed.

“There are many Australians who for reasons of conscience will always believe that marriage is between a man and a woman and will want to teach their children this.

“Mr Rudd’s tone suggested that there was no place in Australia for these beliefs. The far-reaching consequences of changing the definition of marriage mean a conscience vote of the Australian people, not politicians, is what is needed.”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/13/act-to-legalise-same-sex-marriage

Any plans to eliminate hospital waiting lists in the ACT?

salad in wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 7:09am:

Any plans to eliminate hospital waiting lists in the ACT?

How is that connected to the topic?

____ wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 7:18am:

salad in wrote on Sep 15th, 2013 at 7:09am: Any plans to eliminate hospital waiting lists in the ACT? How is that connected to the topic?

Priorities.

salad in wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 9:12am:

____ wrote on Sep 15th, 2013 at 7:18am: salad in wrote on Sep 15th, 2013 at 7:09am: Any plans to eliminate hospital waiting lists in the ACT? How is that connected to the topic? Priorities.

Perhaps salad in isn't aware we have a ministry so that governments can focus on a multiple issues.

Sorreee, gay marriage is off dearie.

I hope the liberals slap this down quicker than they (the people trying to circumvent parliament) can open their mouths and say they are going to circumvent parliament.

Its not an important topic in any way, it deserves no air time for that reason.

The people deserve choice, if you are gay and want to pretend to be hetro move to New Zealand they allow everything from gay pretend hetro weddings to sexual acts with sheep. And if your are heterosexual and against the homosexual desecration of marriage then Stay in Australia..

salad in wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 7:09am:

Any plans to eliminate hospital waiting lists in the ACT?

Only in the AIDS ward.  ;D

salad in wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 7:09am:

Any plans to eliminate hospital waiting lists in the ACT?

Gay marriage legislation saves more lives

What is this I detect from the conservative posters ... sour grapes?

____ wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 4:43pm:

What is this I detect from the conservative posters ... sour grapes?

Greens went to the election with a Gay Marriage policy and lost 25% of it's voter base and you think we are sour grapes  ;D ;D ;D

salad in wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 9:12am:

____ wrote on Sep 15th, 2013 at 7:18am: salad in wrote on Sep 15th, 2013 at 7:09am: Any plans to eliminate hospital waiting lists in the ACT? How is that connected to the topic? Priorities.

yeah I've about had a guts full of queers too salad..

out of everything that's wrong in the country Labor and the Greens keep bringing up the "QUEER" issue...

I think when a government is in trouble they bring up this red herring... I think they are libs in the NT now and have been in a bit of strife..

so once again.. lets "divert" and talk about the "QUEER" issue again..

just go bugger yourselves ya sick freaks and shut the bugger up...   >:(

I watched that Q+A and didn't see Rudd bully anyone.

This issue is a no brainer. Australia should just pass a law and get it over with.

True Blue... wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 5:29pm:

salad in wrote on Sep 15th, 2013 at 9:12am: ____ wrote on Sep 15th, 2013 at 7:18am: salad in wrote on Sep 15th, 2013 at 7:09am: Any plans to eliminate hospital waiting lists in the ACT? How is that connected to the topic? Priorities. yeah I've about had a guts full of queers too salad.. out of everything that's wrong in the country Labor and the Greens keep bringing up the "QUEER" issue... I think when a government is in trouble they bring up this red herring... I think they are libs in the NT now and have been in a bit of strife.. so once again.. lets "divert" and talk about the "QUEER" issue again.. just go bugger yourselves ya sick freaks and shut the bugger up...   >:(

Homosexuality isn't a sickness or freakish ... where as homophobia is a mental illness. Recommend you seek treatment.

It won't happen in an Abbott lead parliament. The greens have nothing to offer him

It shouldnt happen in any parliament.

The whole idea of gay marriage is morally repugnant.

____ wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 6:23pm:

True Blue... wrote on Sep 15th, 2013 at 5:29pm: salad in wrote on Sep 15th, 2013 at 9:12am: ____ wrote on Sep 15th, 2013 at 7:18am: salad in wrote on Sep 15th, 2013 at 7:09am: Any plans to eliminate hospital waiting lists in the ACT? How is that connected to the topic? Priorities. yeah I've about had a guts full of queers too salad.. out of everything that's wrong in the country Labor and the Greens keep bringing up the "QUEER" issue... I think when a government is in trouble they bring up this red herring... I think they are libs in the NT now and have been in a bit of strife.. so once again.. lets "divert" and talk about the "QUEER" issue again.. just go bugger yourselves ya sick freaks and shut the bugger up...   >:( Homosexuality isn't a sickness or freakish ... where as homophobia is a mental illness. Recommend you seek treatment.

You'll find there is a school of thought to suggest homosexuality is an abnormality in the brain affecting choice and attraction. It is not normal and could well be a condition.

The link as well in how many pedophiles are homosexual men should also not be overlooked.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 7:43pm:

It shouldnt happen in any parliament. The whole idea of gay marriage is morally repugnant.

Many things are morally repugnant. Like apartheid. Didn't stop you Boers legalising it, did it Andrei?

Hmmm but supporting the Argentinian military junta and Umkhonto we sizwe terror actions is perfectly fine eh Commie?

How's that glasshouse to chuck your bricks from Pete?

Peter Freedman wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 6:10pm:

I watched that Q+A and didn't see Rudd bully anyone. This issue is a no brainer. Australia should just pass a law and get it over with.

I love how these goons say they don't care, yet always follow that up with "they should just do it and move on". 

If it's really not important, you don't change anything.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 7:49pm:

Hmmm but supporting the Argentinian military junta and Umkhonto we sizwe terror actions is perfectly fine eh Commie? How's that glasshouse to chuck your bricks from Pete?

Think I hit a nerve. Good. Not nice being exposed as a hypocrite is it, Andrei?

... wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 7:52pm:

Peter Freedman wrote on Sep 15th, 2013 at 6:10pm: I watched that Q+A and didn't see Rudd bully anyone. This issue is a no brainer. Australia should just pass a law and get it over with. I love how these goons say they don't care, yet always follow that up with "they should just do it and move on".  If it's really not important, you don't change anything.

It's important to those directly affected. It harms no-one. That's why it should be done.

Bullshit hicks most pedos are actually from the own family, perpetrated by straight me on innocent girls.

Most pedos are not gay men at all

Verge wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 8:02pm:

Most pedos are not gay men at all

That's right.  They're just men who bugger boys - not gay at all.

Most victims are female you uninformed idiotic hillbilly.

Would you like to know which group holds the monopoly on men having sex with young boys. Like Jimmy Carr on Ed said, I used to hate going to church with all the sitting down, standing up and kneeling, why couldn't the priest just pick a position and f##k me

Verge wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 8:16pm:

Most victims are female you uninformed idiotic hillbilly.

True.  but if 40% of victims are boys, but 90% of offenders are men, what does that tell you?

That based on your stats only 36% of pedos are gay. Not quite the majority you were claiming not to long ago

Verge wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 8:52pm:

That based on your stats only 36% of pedos are gay. Not quite the majority you were claiming not to long ago

I didn't claim any majority.  I didn't claim any number at all.  I hope that was a genuine mistake, rather you being a straight-up bullshit artist.   >:(

For what it's worth, I'd only claim a single digit percentage of homos are paedophiles. 

I think its appalling that arse reamers have to root their boyfriend up the arse outside of holy wedlock, every sh#t they take is illegitimate.

Quote:

single digit homos are paedophiles.

:D

Indeed.

Innocent bystander wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 9:43pm:

I think its appalling that arse reamers have to root their boyfriend up the arse outside of holy wedlock, every sh#t they take is illegitimate.

Obviously not talking from experience there. 

Verge wrote on Sep 15^th, 2013 at 8:52pm:

That based on your stats only 36% of pedos are gay. Not quite the majority you were claiming not to long ago

You people always forget about bisexuals. There are much more bisexuals than gays and most gays can't stand them. I've never met any pedos but I have met bi's and gays. They want real men (and women), not kids.