Senate votes down equality call
The Senate has voted down a motion by the Greens to call on the Federal Government to support marriage equality.
The motion put forward by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young noted that, 鈥渢he New York State Congress has legislated for marriage equality, and in doing so, New York has joined the following states of the United States of America, Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, Washington DC and New Hampshire, along with more than 10 other nations鈥�.
The motion also stated that, 鈥淎ustralia is one of only a few democratic nations that does not provide same-sex couples with equal marriage rights.鈥�
It then called on the Government 鈥渢o support marriage equality for all Australian citizens鈥�.
The motion was defeated in a vote of 31 to 9 around 1.15pm with only the Senate鈥檚 nine Greens voting in favour of it.
HANSON-YOUNG鈥橲 SENATE SPEECH
鈥淚 rise today to speak on a matter that is important to all those – both here and outside of this place – who believe in fairness. That issue is marriage equality.
Since I first introduced my Bill back in 2009 the momentum for this important reform has continued to grow.鈥�
鈥淪uccessive polls put support for marriage equality at more than 60 percent, and a recent poll commissioned by Australian Marriage Equality, shows that the community now believes this reform will happen. In fact 75 percent see it as inevitable. It’s no longer a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.
鈥淭he momentum for change continues to build. Across the nation State Labor party organisations are gradually joining the Greens in declaring their support for marriage equality. South Australian Labor members endorsed the campaign, as have members in Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT. New South Wales will be debating it at their state conference in July. It is clear which way the tide is moving and it is time for the national leadership of the Labor party to get out of the way and listen to their rank and file.
鈥淲e have also seen support for marriage equality continue to build at an international level. Just a few weeks ago, the New York congress legislated in favour of same-sex marriage, joining the US states of Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, Washington DC and New Hampshire.
鈥淭he New York decision is a significant breakthrough. It’s something many thought would never happen and demonstrates just how quickly things can change. It’s interesting to note, rather than the sky falling in people took to the streets in celebration.
鈥淚 must say I was a bit puzzled by the reaction of our Prime Minister. After proclaiming on her recent visit to the United States that “America can do anything” she was pretty quick to distance herself from the United States on this issue saying we don’t need to follow America.
鈥淚 agree with the Prime Minister on that. We don’t need to follow the United States, on this issue, we can lead. Rather than adopting the piece-meal state by state process being undertaken in the US, we can set a positive example for the Obama administration by legislating for marriage equality at a federal level. Perhaps it’s time that we showed the world that “Australia can do anything.”
鈥淲hile we could lead by example when it comes to the United States, we are being left behind when we look at marriage equality on a global scale. A mounting number of nations have legislated for same -sex marriage: the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Mexico City, Portugal, Iceland and Argentina.
鈥淲hat exactly is the reason for Australia’s inaction? Why exactly is Australia being left behind? According to the Prime Minister, this is because of cultural and social tradition. Marriage is between a man and a woman – that is the way things have always been and that is the way things must remain. The leader of the opposition appears to share the same view.
鈥淢ost of us here would recognise, however that to look at cultural and social practice as something static, that’s’ unchanging is to deny the reality. In fact, it overlooks why most of us are here in this place at all. If you don’t believe in changing society, if you don’t believe in social progress then why would you go into public life?
鈥淲e all know that things can and do change over time. Just over a hundred years ago, the idea of a woman being elected to parliament would have been seen as radical and out of step with the natural order of things. A woman’s role was in the home after all. Just 50 years ago, the idea of a woman Prime Minister would have seem fanciful.
Just over forty years ago, Aboriginal Australians weren’t even counted as citizens.
鈥淔ortunately things did change. The parliament didn’t just sit back and say 鈥榯his is our tradition, so that’s the end of it’, they recognised that there was discrimination and that it needed to be overcome.
鈥淚 know that as in the community, there are people on both sides of this chamber, who do recognise things need to change and that marriage equality is an idea that’s time has come.
鈥淭he Prime Minister and Opposition Leader are entitled to their views on this matter however they are not entitled to impose their views on the broader community. And they are not entitled to deny other Australians the same rights and privileges that they enjoy, on the basis of their own personal views.
鈥淪ince I last rose to speak on this matter, my colleague the Member for Melbourne won support for a motion in the House of Representatives calling on all members to gauge the views of their constituents on this issue. Many have done so.
鈥淭he next step is to give all members a free vote, so they can actually reflect the views of their communities in the Parliament. Issues of human rights are too important to be captive to party-lines.
鈥淎 conscience vote would ensure that all members of parliament, whatever their political allegiance have their say. According to a poll released late last year, almost 80 percent of Australians think that a conscience vote is a good idea.
鈥淚t defies belief that two of the most poll driven politicians in the country, Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard – turn a blind eye to this poll. It’s time for them to take action.鈥�
I think it prudent to note here just how much party politics seem to have an influence on these things. If only the nine senators for the Greens voted yes on this motion, one must ask others where was Penny Wong? She is a Labor senator, yet is quite outspoken (being an open lesbian politician) about her opinion on same-sex marriage. If she supports it, why did she vote no? Surely the power lines are that entrenched in Australian politics that all parties have lost their way.
Lanh needs to contact Anglicare who advertises for Same-Sex couples to look after children, as they make great parents. Then after this, he could contact one the great Uniting Church anti-homophobic prgrams, then he can call my Anglican Bishop who wants to marry my partner and I. After this Lanh can contact the The Ecumenical Catholic Church of Australia that has come out strongly in support of both civil and religious same-sex marriage.
Then I encourage him to apologise to all those couples married who never had children, and all those thousands of Same-Sex couples who have children. Then he might want to look at nature, two gay dolphins who get together with an opposite sex dolphin and have young, the same as swans.
We can gentically replicate gay fruit flies and lesbian mice, but we no magic pill for empathy.
Keep up the brilliant work Sarah!
Thank you America, after spending nearly three weeks in the US, during PRIDE in San Fran and being here when New York said yes to same sex marriage. During our journey many people have told us they support gay marriage. We have felt very welcomed. Today we had two different people tell us how good we look together in LA. I get a sense that we can do it Australia. Imagine if every supporting person did a one thing to show their support, if you support a right for all humans to marry join in with one of the many groups working to get this through at a federal level.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is like a breath of fresh air who actually also has empathy !!!
“it鈥檚 simple guys鈥�.redefine marriage to be about something that is 100% infertile鈥�.and you have just taken out the VERY POINT of marriage in the first place.”
Um, i think you will find that there are plenty of heterosexual couples that are unable to have children for whatever reason that will disagree with your ignorant rant.
FAIL!
Wow…so much for respectful debate! An ancient social institution that protects the basic right of children….and a narrow lobby group wants to redefine it. Hmmmmnnnn…let’s see…a cause for concern….any reason most people should ask some questions first?
Equal love sure….equal sex NOT!
the whole point of a culture or village or religion demanding marriage (lifelong committment) before kids shak up…is that any children that turn up NEED their parents around.
Because guess who is burdened if the parents don’t stick around?
the extended family, the village, the church, the state.
it’s simple guys….redefine marriage to be about something that is 100% infertile….and you have just taken out the VERY POINT of marriage in the first place.
go and have your ceremony a party and some balloons it is NOT illegal.
Just don’t think society will want to call that marriage and promote it in schools to our children
Get your own children…oops sorry i forgot you can only steal them from their biological parents! Nasty!
Iain is a known funamentalist and is an avid supporter of the ACL from his many vile posts posts on this website.
Wow, you lot are a bit tense today…. Andrew expressed what is largely a neutral opinion with some factual evidence and you lot attack him like a pack of rabid dogs. Andrew, like everyone, is allowed to express his opinion on this topic; for you lot to demand otherwise is the height of ignorance. You’re a bunch of hypocrites.
Andrew, we in Australia already know that many Americans are dumb, not to mention totally ignorant. All you are doing with your lousy comment is removing any doubts that the above is true.
Andrew, you are mistaken when you state
“Don鈥檛 be fooled by claims that because New York has passed it that America now accepts gay marriage because the vast majority of us don鈥檛!”
A recent Gallup poll i linked to above now puts support of marriage equality across USA at 53%. This was released on May 20 of this year. So rather than a vast majority, in fact a slight minority are opposed to gay marriage, with a slight majority in favour of it!
In response to Andrew I simply say “get fucked”. If your stance is going to be as an ignorant ass then ok, I officially don’t support your right to get married. Or have a wife. Or kids. Or happiness. See it seems to be that people like you think it’s ok to say that you dont support us getting married etc.. And we just have to take it because you have so many other ignorant people who agree with you e.g the government and extremist religion but when we turn around and do the same it’s like oh well fuck what you think because it’s illegal so your instantly wrong. Well no! We are NOT wrong in wanting the equality stupid people like you have and don’t deserve. It’s sad that people in power pander to the words of the hateful and ignorant not the just and equal.
As an American who came across this article, I would like to remind you Australians that New York hardly speaks for all Americans. The vast majority of our states don’t have gay marriage and are a long way from having it. For instance, in Florida – our nation’s 4th most populous state – a solid majority of Floridians still oppose legalizing gay marriage according a Democratic poll released today. Don’t be fooled by claims that because New York has passed it that America now accepts gay marriage because the vast majority of us don’t!