GAY COUPLES – LEGAL STATUS

Gay marriage vote is left at the altar

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 30-Aug-16

The Australian Government will not have sufficient numbers in the Senate to pass its enabling legislation for a plebiscite on same-sex marriage, after Derryn Hinch and the Nick Xenophon Team decided to vote against it. The Australian Labor Party and the Greens had already committed to rejecting the legislation, and favour a direct vote by Parliament on the issue rather than a plebiscite. The legalisation of same-sex marriage is now unlikely to be on the political agenda again until after the next federal election.

CORPORATES
NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Too late to hold plebiscite this year: electoral body

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Original article by Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 4 : 2-Aug-16

The Australian Electoral Commission’s submission to a Senate committee suggests that there would be insufficient time to organise and hold a plebiscite on same-sex marriage before the end of 2016. The submission estimates that the entire process would take 29 weeks, but there are just 21 weeks left in the calendar year. The Special Minister of State, Scott Ryan, recently expressed his view that a plebiscite could still be held this year.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN ELECTORAL COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, SKY NEWS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Plebiscite a mandate if Coalition wins: PM

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Original article by David Crowe, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 6 : 21-Jun-16

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten continues to favour a parliamentary vote on the issue of same-sex marriage. He has committed to introducing legislation within his first 100 days in office if the Australian Labor Party wins the 2016 election. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in turn aims to hold a plebiscite on the issue by the end of the year if the Coalition is returned to office. A recent survey by Griffith University showed that 70 per cent of respondents support a plebiscite.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY. CENTRE FOR GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC POLICY

Anti-gay marriage campaign cruel: Shorten

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 23-Oct-15

The Australian Government will provide funding for both the Yes and No campaigns on the issue of same-sex marriage in the lead-up to a proposed plebiscite. The Australian Labor Party favours a parliamentary vote on gay marriage rather than a plebiscite, and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has expressed concern that the No campaign could prompt a rise in mental health problems in the gay community.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, GAY AND LESBIAN HEALTH VICTORIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Gay marriage rocks PM

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1&8 : 12-Aug-15

A special meeting of Coalition MPs and senators, held on 11 August 2015, was devoted to the divisive issue of gay marriage. The proposal to introduce same-sex marriage through legislative changes was defeated by 66 votes to 33. Prime Minster Tony Abbott said the issue will be considered again in the next term of Parliament. His preferred option is a referendum which would allow the public to decide on gay marriage.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Support for gay marriage grows but interest wanes

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 31-Jul-15

JWS Research has found that 54 per cent of Australian electors now support same-sex marriage, which represents a nine per cent increase since the last federal election. The research, which is based on quantitative polling and focus groups, also found that women and electors in the 18-34 age group are most in favour of gay marriage. However, the focus groups also show that many Australians do not regard the issue as a key priority.

CORPORATES
JWS RESEARCH PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN LOBBY

Abbott hints at conscience vote on gay marriage

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 28-May-15

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Liberal Party MPs will be granted a conscience vote on the issue of same-sex marriage. Abbott opposes same-sex marriage, but is open to a party-room vote on the issue. This follows a move by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to pursue a private members’ bill on gay marriage. However, Abbott says the Coalition wants to postpone any debate on gay marriage until the next session of Parliament, so it can focus on 2015 Budget policies.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Gay MP stands up for marriage equality

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Original article by Nicole Hasham
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 9 : 21-Nov-14

Liberal Party of New South Wales MP Don Harwin spoke in favour of marriage equality for gay people in 2010, during debate on the Relationships Register Bill. Harwin, who is the president of the state’s upper house, disclosed his homosexuality in Parliament on 20 November 2014. He later said that he had urged the legalisation of gay marriage in a submission to a Senate inquiry, arguing banning gay couples from marrying is discrimination

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY