State MPs give in-principle support to same-sex marriage

THE Premier and his deputy have joined the majority of Lower House MPs in backing in principle support for same-sex marriage.

Gay/same sex marriage concept.

PREMIER Will Hodgman and his deputy Jeremy Rockliff have joined the majority of Lower House MPs in backing in-principle support for same-sex marriage.

In a landmark decision, Lower House MPs voted 15 to nine in support of an amended Greens’ motion for Tasmania to express in-principle support for same-sex marriage.

Mr Hodgman told Parliament he believed same-sex marriage would strengthen the institution of marriage.

He did however foreshadow changes to the Tasmanian anti-discrimination act to ­ensure religious figures will be able to express their concerns about same-sex marriage without the threat of repercussions.

His move comes as Archbishop of Hobart Julian Port­eous defended a pamphlet promoting the Catholic Church’s stance on same-sex marriage, saying the letter from Catholic bishops of Australia was written to ­inform, not to belittle or offend.

Tasmania’s anti-discrimination commissioner is examining a complaint over the pamphlet lodged by Hobart transgender rights advocate and federal Greens candidate for Franklin, Martine Delaney.

Opposition leader Bryan Green and Greens leader Cassy O’Connor spoke in support of the motion — which followed similar commitments from the West Australian and New South Wales parliaments.

Ms O’Connor said as a ­society same-sex couples were excluded from the institution of marriage.

“I believe in love and I believe in equality, I strongly believe in marriage equality.”

Mr Green raised concerns about a plebiscite as has been promised by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull: “[It]takes away the ­responsibility of the current members of Parliament to make a decision.”

Liberal MPs said changes to the Marriage Act were a Federal responsibility.