Support for gay marriage free vote / Call for inquiry to 'hear community voice'

This media release was issued by the TGLRG on July 1st, 2008.

Gay activists have welcomed a move by the Greens to secure a free vote from the major parties on the issue of same-sex marriage, adding that a parliamentary inquiry is also necessary to hear the community's voice on the issue.

According to Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome,

"Those MPs in major parties who support the principle of marriage equality should have the right to demonstrate this support", Mr Croome said.

"An inquiry into the issue is also important because it will allow the community's voice to be heard, as well as allow outstanding constitutional questions to be resolved."

Tasmanian Greens Justice spokesperson, Nick McKim, today tabled state same-sex marriage laws first introduced in 2005, and called on both major parties to have a conscience vote on the issue, citing the fact that both parties have previously allowed free votes on matters related to same-sex relationships (the ALP on homosexual decriminalisation and the Liberals on the Relationships Act).

Mr Croome said discrimination hurts the institution of marriage as much as the couples who are excluded by this discrimination.

"Like every social institution, marriage must keep pace with community attitudes or risk becoming irrelevant", Mr Croome said.

"If marriage today was the same institution it was 100 years ago, when married women lost all their rights, and inter-racial and inter-denominational marriages were frowned on, no-one would marry."

"Ending marriage discrimination will enhance the standing and appeal of the institution, not diminish it."

The Greens have legal advice from constitutional expert, Professor George Williams, that it is possible for states to enact same-sex marriage laws, while Tasmanian Premier, David Bartlett, believes marriage is a federal matter.

"The Australian Constitution gives the Federal Government the power to make marriage laws, but if there are marital relationships it refuses to make laws about, like same-sex relationships, the power to make such laws falls to the states", Mr Croome said.

For more information on state same-sex marriage laws, including Prof Williams' opinion, visit http://tglrg.org/index/C0_3_1/

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.