Australian Senator to introduce bill for same-sex marriage
{{date|June 16, 2006}}
[[Image:Senate Doorway.jpg|right|200px]]
{{aussieissue|Same-sex marriage in Australia}}
The [[Australia]]n [[w:Australian Democrats|Democrats]] deputy leader, Senator [[w:Andrew Bartlett|Andrew Bartlett]] moved in the [[w:Australian Senate|Australian Senate]] a bill to amend the Marriage Act to provide for [[w:same-sex marriages|same-sex marriages]]. 

Senator Bartlett's [[w:second reading|second reading]] speech which was incorporated into the [[w:Hansard|Hansard]] described that the bill "reverses the [[w:Same-sex marriage in Australia|Marriage Amendment Act 2004]]...which...changed the definition to that of a union between one man and one woman only", and refuted arguments against same-sex marriage proposed by some conservative Government senators. Bartlett continued to say that "We do not want to send the message that discrimination is acceptable in Australia" to our children, or to other nations."

The federal Government is opposed to civil unions. In an interview on June 8, Prime Minister [[w:John Howard|John Howard]] said, "I don’t see it in any way as discriminating against homosexuals, it’s not, it’s designed to preserve the special status of marriage in our community and that’s what it’s all about."

Debate on the bill will occur at a later date. A bill proposed later in the sitting day by the [[w:Australian Greens|Australian Greens]] to stop the Governor-General disallowing ACT state law establishing civil unions failed, by a majority of two votes. 

== Related news ==
* {{wikinews|title=ACT Civil Unions Act invalidated by Governor General|date=June 13, 2006}}

== Sources ==
{{original}}
* Australian Senate ''[http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/dailys/ds150606.pdf Hansard]'', June 15, 2006.
*{{source
|url=http://www.pm.gov.au/news/interviews/Interview1970.html
|title=THE PRIME MINISTER THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP DOORSTOP INTERVIEW, NORTH RYDE, SYDNEY
|author=Interview
|pub=Prime Minister of Australia - Newsroom
|date=June 8, 2006}}

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Same-sex marriage]]
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The Australian Democrats deputy leader, Senator Andrew Bartlett moved in the Australian Senate a bill to amend the Marriage Act to provide for same-sex marriages. 

Senator Bartlett's second reading speech which was incorporated into the Hansard described that the bill "reverses the Marriage Amendment Act 2004...which...changed the definition to that of a union between one man and one woman only", and refuted arguments against same-sex marriage proposed by some conservative Government senators. Bartlett continued to say that "We do not want to send the message that discrimination is acceptable in Australia" to our children, or to other nations."

The federal Government is opposed to civil unions. In an interview on June 8, Prime Minister John Howard said, "I don’t see it in any way as discriminating against homosexuals, it’s not, it’s designed to preserve the special status of marriage in our community and that’s what it’s all about."

Debate on the bill will occur at a later date. A bill proposed later in the sitting day by the Australian Greens to stop the Governor-General disallowing ACT state law establishing civil unions failed, by a majority of two votes.
Politics and conflicts Australia Oceania Same-sex marriage