Tasmanian marriage motion up today
A historic motion which could see the Tasmanian parliament back marriage equality rights will be tabled today.
The motion comes as a new poll shows 59 percent of Tasmanians support marriage equality for same-sex attracted Australians, while 65 percent do not oppose it.
Tasmanian Greens leader Nick McKim will introduce the notice of motion today that would, if passed, make the Tasmanian Parliament the first in Australia to express in-principle support for marriage equality. It will also call on the Federal Parliament to reform the Marriage Act.
The motion is expected to be debated tomorrow (Wednesday).
鈥淚f this motion is passed, it will be a historic milestone for marriage equality in Australia,鈥� McKim said.
鈥淭asmania could lead the way from being the last Australian state to decriminalise homosexuality to the first to endorse marriage equality, with all the social and economic benefits that would follow.
鈥淭he Greens believe the law needs to be changed to make same sex marriage legal, and it鈥檚 clear from the polls that most Australians agree. While the Greens鈥� motion would not legalise same sex marriage in Tasmania, it would send a strong signal to Federal Parliamentarians that they must get in step with community opinion on this issue.
鈥淚f we want to send a message that sexuality-based discrimination in our community is unacceptable, we need to remove the discrimination that remains entrenched in our laws. Marriage equality is something the majority of Tasmanians and Australians support. The passage of our motion this week would send a strong message that politicians are catching up to community opinion.
鈥淭he Greens have already tabled a package of cognate Bills in Parliament, and we will bring them on for debate should the Federal Parliament fail to act by the end of the year.鈥�
In the event that Tasmania did legalise same-sex marriage under state law, the Federal Government would have no power to veto it.
NSW:
Meanwhile, a statewide poll by ERMS research found that 65 percent of Tasmanians do not oppose marriage equality; 59 percent support it; 6 percent are unsure and only 35 percent are against.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson Rodney Croome said the poll increases pressure on Labor and Liberal MPs to support McKim鈥檚 motion.
鈥淢ost Tasmanians understand that this issue isn鈥檛 about moral judgements or religious concerns but about love, commitment and family which are values all Tasmanians share and want to see affirmed,鈥� Croome said in a statement.
鈥淥ur politicians talk a lot about 鈥榝amily values鈥�, and here鈥檚 a chance for them to show the concept embraces same-sex couples and our children rather than excluding us or being threatened by us.
鈥淣ow it鈥檚 clear that Tasmanians say 鈥榶es鈥� to marriage equality it鈥檚 time for our state politicians to do the same.鈥�
The poll was commission by Australian Marriage Equality (AME) and the Tasmanian Greens. AME spokesman Alex Greenwich is on his way to Tasmania today ahead of tomorrow鈥檚 expected debate.
鈥淚f the motion is successful it will send a powerful message to the federal government and to the ALP National Conference in December that it is time to move forward on this issue,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 hope it will also encourage other states to follow Tasmania鈥檚 lead and represent what we know is majority community support for marriage equality across the nation with similar motions.鈥�
