When will same-sex couples be able to marry after law in Australia changes?

COUPLES wanting to get married have been offered a choice of free venues, as the date weddings can begin is announced.

Same-sex couples should be able to marry next year.

SYDNEY’S Inner West Council is officially accepting bookings for same-sex marriages in its town halls, community centres and parks — and they will be held for free for 100 days.

Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne made the announcement hours after the news parliament passed the bill on Thursday.

“This is a historic day in the struggle for civil rights in Australia,” Mr Byrne said, adding that the offer — which will start from January 7 — is a gesture of solidarity and recognition for the country’s LGBTIQ community.

“We are proud that the Inner West delivered the highest turn out in the postal survey of any area in NSW ... now we are aiming to become the same-sex marriage capital of Sydney.”

It follows City of Sydney’s motion in October to offer free venues for same-sex weddings should the legislation pass federal parliament. However, it is yet to comment on it following the legislation passage.

Attorney-General George Brandis has confirmed the new laws will come into effect on Saturday, December 9, meaning couples will be able to marry on January 9 at the earliest. Here’s how it works:

WHEN DOES IT BECOME LEGAL?

The bill becomes law once it is given Royal Assent, which happens when the Governor-General signs it.

This usually takes between seven and 10 working days but the same-sex marriage bill was signed at 9am today.

IT WON’T TAKE EFFECT STRAIGHT AWAY

Some laws change immediately once the Governor-General signs it but the same-sex marriage bill has a provision that commencement will be on “a single day to be fixed by proclamation” or 28 days after Royal Assent.

In a statement, Attorney-General George Brandis confirmed the changes will take effect from Saturday, December 9.

“From Saturday, same-sex couples will be able to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage to commence the one month minimum notice period required before the solemnisation of marriages under the Marriage Act,” he said.

Marriages that have taken place overseas will also be recognised in Australia on Saturday.

Another change that will take effect 12 months later will make it discriminatory for states and territories to stop people from changing their gender on official documentation. Previously government authorities could refuse to change the gender on someone’s birth certificate or other documentation if they were already married and the change would result in them being married to someone of the same sex.

ONE LAST THING ... YOU MUST GIVE NOTICE

Even though same-sex marriages will be able to take place from Saturday, couples won’t be able to walk down the aisle straight away.

Any couple wanting to marry in Australia needs to give at least one month’s notice.

They do this by filling in a Notice of Intended Marriage and giving it to a celebrant.

The Attorney-General’s office has confirmed this means couples can wed on January 9 at the earliest.

Forms and other information will be available following the proclamation of the bill at www.ag.gov.au/marriageforms and www.ag.gov.au/marriageequality.

Liberal MP Tim Wilson proposed to his partner Ryan Bolger during a speech on the Marriage Amendment Bill 2017 at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith