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2010/22: Should Australia legalise gay marriage?
Introduction to the media issue
Video clip at right: an ABC Lateline segment, featuring Greens Senator Bob Brown and Jim Wallace from the Australian Christian Lobby. (More audio and video in the Web links and documents section)
If you cannot see this clip, it will be because video is blocked by your network. To view the clip, access from home or from a public library, or from another network which allows viewing of video clips.
What they said...
'I do believe that in our society, with our heritage, with our traditions, with our history, that marriage has a special place and a special definition'
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, explaining her opposition to same-sex marriage
'The message that comes with the legalisation of same-sex marriage is important for the entire gay community, but is critical for our more vulnerable members, particularly gay teenagers'
Jacqueline Tomlins, member of the Rainbow Families Council
The issue at a glance
On November 18, 2010, a Greens motion urging federal members of parliament to gauge community support for gay marriage was passed by the House of Representatives.
In February 2010, the Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young's Marriage Equality Bill was rejected by the Senate. Senator Hanson-Young re-introduced the bill to the Senate in September 2010. The bill will sit on a notice paper until the major parties agree to a conscience vote on it.
Gauging community views on same-sex marriage will keep the issue alive in the media and increase its profile among the electorate. Currently both the Labor Government and the Liberal Opposition oppose same-sex marriage. There appears to be majority support for the proposal within the Australian community, though all major churches oppose the legalisation of same-sex marriage.
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