Legalise Same Sex Marriage in Australia

Same-sex marriages are currently not permitted under Australian federal law. Since 2004, the Marriage Act 1961 has defined marriage as "the union of a man and a woman". In addition, Australian law expressly declares that unions between same-sex couples entered into outside the country are not to be recognised as marriage in Australia.

In all states and territories, cohabiting same-sex couples are recognised as de facto couples, and have the same rights as cohabiting heterosexual couples under state law. Furthermore, same-sex couples have access to domestic partnership registries in Tasmania and Victoria. Civil partnerships are performed in the Australian Capital Territory.

In November 2008, the Australian Parliament passed laws that recognised same-sex couples in federal law, offering them the same rights as unmarried heterosexual couples in areas such as taxation, social security and health, aged care and employment. This means that same-sex couples who can prove they are in a de facto relationship have most of the rights of married couples since 1 July 2009. Nevertheless, despite equality of rights, Australia does not have a national registered partnership or civil union scheme.

In August 2009, a same-sex marriage bill was introduced by a member of the Australian Greens who pleaded with the government to take into mind that the majority of Australians support same-sex marriage and thereby pass such legislation. The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee is currently reviewing the bill.

The majority of Australians do support same sex marriage. At the present time, the only argument against same sex marriage is religion which claims that marriage is a sacred union between man and woman. The majority of Australians are no longer married in a church, nor blessed by a religious body, but more often in more contemporary venues by celebrants etc.