[Greens-Media] Premier Puts Electoral Love Ahead of Marriage Equality

[Franks, Office]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July  25, 2013

SA Premier Puts Electoral Love Ahead of Marriage Equality

A decision by the Weatherill Government to force the Same Sex Marriage Bill to a vote has killed the Bill in the Lower House, according to Greens' Gender and Sexuality spokesperson, Tammy Franks.

The co-sponsored Bill, first introduced in the Lower House by Member for Port Adelaide Susan Close, was yesterday introduced in the Upper House by Ms Franks.

"Premier Weatherill's self-serving decision to rush this Bill to a vote today means that legislation is effectively dead on arrival thanks to this unnecessary intervention," she said.

"It seems he was more interested in an election fix and trying to wedge the Opposition than delivering genuine reform for same sex couples."

Ms Franks said the Premier made the decision to rush the bill to a vote despite the lead advocates for marriage equality in the nation, Australian Marriage Equality, urging him to hold off.

"The Liberals were waiting on the report from a NSW inquiry, due for release tomorrow," Ms Franks said.

"So why bring the matter to a vote today?

"The decision to rush this debate seems entirely self-serving.

"Marriage equality is too important to be the Premier's political plaything.

"South Australia still has a real opportunity to be the first Australian jurisdiction to take this important step and I am hopeful that the NSW inquiry will result in a change of heart on the issue of a Liberal conscience vote."

The Greens Marriage Equality Bill will be debated in the Upper House following the Winter break and can still be revived in the Lower House if successful.

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