Tasmania and ACT back moves for marriage equality

MOVES to allow gay couples to marry are gathering pace with the ACT and Tasmania showing support, but critics have cried foul.

A marriage equality rally in Hobart in 2015. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

THE momentum towards marriage equality is gathering pace with the legislature of the Australian Capital Territory joining Tasmania’s Parliament in publicly backing the move.

The ACT’s Legislative Assembly on Wednesday called for the planned plebiscite on the issue to be axed and the matter to be voted on in Parliament instead.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr called on the Federal Government to abandon its same-sex marriage plebiscite, describing it as expensive, unnecessary, and “divisive”.

Instead the assembly called for a “free, positive and respectful” debate on marriage equality to remain within the House of Representatives and the Senate.

However, critics of gay marriage have labelled those looking to derail a public vote as undemocratic radicals who are a “disgrace”.

Mr Barr, who is the only openly gay leader of a state or territory, said if a plebiscite did eventuate he would spearhead the campaign for a yes vote in the nation’s capital.

“It’s well and truly time, Canberra knows it, Australia knows it,” he said.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr listens to Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi and Labor Senator Penny Wong debate same sex marriage in 2015 at the Press Club in Canberra.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull went to the election promising a plebiscite on marriage equality. But while he said it could happen before the end of the year, that timetable now looks to have slipped with no set date for a public poll.

We don't often claim Tasmania, but when we do it's because it's the first state to support same-sex marriage https://t.co/tXXD6OQWQR

— Emma Kennedy (@Em_Ken_) August 10, 2016

we hope that one day that all states like tasmania end up supporting and legalizing same sex marriage and marriage equality #loveislove

— Andrew Attenborough (@wheelguy09) August 10, 2016

The ACT’s move came just days after Tasmania’s Upper House also backed same-sex marriage, becoming the first in the nation to show in-principle support for law reform in both chambers.

Tasmania’s Legislative Council on Tuesday voted eight-to-five to back a motion in support of marriage equality in a move that comes after a similar result from the Lower House last year.

Advocates looking for the law to be extended to gay couple welcomes Tasmania’s move.

“Achieving marriage equality is about ensuring everyone that we know and love has the same opportunities to reach their full potential. It’s about members of our families, our friends, neighbours and workmates”, Australian Marriage Equality National Spokeswoman, Shirleene Robinson said.

Rodney Croome, who heads up the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group and is playing a leading role in the new just.equal campaign which aims to nix a plebiscite in favour of the vote going straight to Parliament, said the Upper House result was a watershed.

“No one can accuse the Upper House of being a radical chamber and its support for marriage equality confirms the reform has strong mainstream support.

“If the Tasmanian Upper House can get behind marriage equality, anyone can,” he said.

But the Australian Christian Lobby said Tasmania’s Parliament should stick to its knitting and stay out of Federal politics.

While Family First’s Peter Madden took to Twitter to lash out at the Tasmanian Parliament’s move and accused campaigners against the plebiscite as undemocratic.

 Read more: Elite Catholic schools defend gay marriage

Tas MLC's who today said they want gay marriage without a plebiscite are merely showing their true colours of demagoguery & manipulation.

— Peter Madden (@PeterMadden2u) August 9, 2016

“To say no to the plebiscite is to join the cowardly manipulators who seek to impose radical cultural change against the will of the people,” he said.

“This whole discussion of whether or not to have a plebiscite is about exposing just who in our midst believe in true democracy and who do not.”

Despite the ACT’s and Tasmania’s votes, marriage equality is no closer and can only be legislated by MPs in Canberra regardless of any future plebiscite.