[Greens-Media] Greens urge conscience vote on same-sex marriage

[Clark, Gemma (Sen S. Hanson-Young)]

Wednesday 12 November 2008

Greens urge conscience vote on same-sex marriage 

The Greens have asked the Liberal and Labor parties to permit their
senators to exercise a conscience vote when a move to allow same-sex
marriage comes before the Senate today.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will move an amendment to the Same-Sex
Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws - General Law
Reform) Bill 2008 - also known as the Same-Sex Omnibus Bill - to make
the Marriage Act gender-neutral.

"Let's make today the day that the Senate votes for true equality for
same-sex couples," she said.

"This is an important matter of conscience on which all Senators should
be granted a free vote.

"Both Labor and Liberal have trumpeted their commitment to removing
discrimination against same-sex couples in Commonwealth law.

"However, the Marriage Act has been a glaring omission from the suite of
bills that will bring us into a new age of equality for same-sex
couples.

"The Greens are hopeful that, with a conscience vote, the issue will be
debated fully, and party lines will be overridden by the understanding
that true equality in law for same-sex couples includes the right to
marry.

"Recent polls* have shown that the majority of Australians support
same-sex marriage - it's time for the parliament's actions to reflect
that."

Media contact: Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760

* Including readers' poll in The Age, 2 May 2008 and iGeneration poll,
West Australian, January 2008.