Labor splits over territory laws

LABOR senators have split over the Greens' attempts to alter laws in the territories, a move that could pave the way for same-sex marriages.

LABOR senators have split over the Greens' attempts to alter laws in the territories, a move that could pave the way for same-sex marriages in Australia.

Julia Gillard had hoped to settle the divisions within the party in March when she intervened against any moves towards same-sex marriage laws but the committee split means a compromise has not been reached.

The Gillard government now faces the possibility of a revolt in the Senate over the bill, which has set factional leaders against each other.

Two right-wing NSW Labor senators, Michael Forshaw and Steve Hutchins, broke ranks with left-wing Labor senators and the Greens over the territories' rights bill moved by Greens leader Bob Brown in March.

The dissenting Labor and Liberal senators accused the Greens of trying to promote their social agenda and "pet projects" in the ACT rather than having an interest in genuine territory rights.

The Prime Minister was forced to intervene in the emotional dispute within the government after a delegation of right-wing senators demanded she withdraw Labor Party caucus support for the bill and the left wing insisted she support it.

Senator Brown's bill had divided the ALP senators after the partyroom backed what some saw as a Greens attempt to introduce same-sex marriage in the ACT.

After the Prime Minister's intervention, the bill was pushed off to a Senate committee in the hope of compromise but has led to further divisions within Labor.

A majority of committee members, including ALP and Greens senators recommended an amended bill be passed but Liberal senators and the two Labor senators dissented from the committee report.

Senator Brown last night welcomed the recommendation "for enhanced democracy in the territories". But he accused the Liberal and Labor senators who were opposed of "treating territorians with colonial-style disdain".

Senator Brown has denied the bill is designed to establish same-sex marriage in the ACT or re-introduce euthanasia.

Senator Brown wants to re-introduce the bill to the Senate as soon as possible for a vote that will put pressure on Labor senators to consider crossing the floor or abstaining. The Greens have accepted amendments to the bill to correct flaws in the original bill and exclude Norfolk Island.

The main Senate report found in favour of the bill and rejected submissions to the committee that there was a Greens agenda to introduce same-sex marriage in the ACT.

The committee found most submissions supported the changes on the basis of democratic rights and that the ability for the federal parliament to override territory laws would remain.

The dissenting Labor senators specifically cited the Greens' social agenda as a reason for the proposed amendments to governing the territories.

In the additional report, senators Forshaw and Hutchins said: "This bill should not be passed in its current form. It is flawed."

Apart from raising inconsistencies between the territories, the Labor senators said, it was not surprising the bill was technically flawed. "Both this bill, and a previous bill proposed by Senator Brown in 2006, originally applied only to the ACT," they said.