Same-sex marriage bill introduced to Parliament

After an outstanding ‘yes’vote of 61.6%, George Brandis Attorney-General moved the bill into the Senate, Mr Brandis noted that there was no Government position on the bill.

Senator Smith’s bill, has cross-party support and contains provisions so that ministers of religion could not be forced to conduct same-sex marriages

The Smith bill provides protections for religious ministers that they would not be forced to perform same-sex marriages.

The bill seeks to “redefine marriage as ‘a union of two people’; introduce non-gendered language so that the requirements of the Act apply equally to all marriages; enable same-sex marriages that have been, or will be, solemnised under the law of a foreign country to be recognised in Australia; amend the definition of ‘authorised celebrant’ to include new categories of religious marriage celebrants and certain Australian Defence Force officers; enable ministers of religion, religious marriage celebrants, chaplains and bodies established for religious purposes to refuse to solemnise or provide facilities, goods and services for marriages on religious grounds; and make amendments contingent on the commencement of the proposed Civil Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2017; and Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to provide that a refusal by a minister of religion, religious marriage celebrant or chaplain to solemnise marriage in prescribed circumstances does not constitute unlawful discrimination.”

This flag has flown at countless protests and marches over the years. Today, it flies proudly at my office. We’ll always have your back. pic.twitter.com/PjqWtBaBef

— Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) November 15, 2017