Australia says no to gay marriage

Australia's controversial gay marriage debate

Australia is one of the least religious nations in the anglo-speaking world, less so than Catholic Ireland or the United States, which both allow queer marriage. Results of a 2016 census, made universal only recently, have shown that "No Religion" is now the leading religion. So how does an irreligious nation home to the Sydney Mardi Gras, and one that polls suggest is broadly in favor of same sex marriage, tie itself in such knots?

This non-binding vote on whether or not to allow same-sex marriage means that Parliament will not necessarily have to pass it into rule. It may still vote on it afterwards. Unusually for Australia, voting will not be compulsory and the vote will be run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, not the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).

Australia court bans male lover marriage

Peter Brent, a explore fellow at Melbourne's Swinburne Institute for Social Study who writes on Australian politics, told DW that he saw it as "a malfunction in the political class, on the Labor side in particular... A plebiscite on lgbtq+ marriage is unnecessary. It was something that Tony Abbott came up with to save his [lead

SSM: Australia returns resounding Yes vote but debate over details has long way to go

The process for a historic free vote on same-sex marriage is now formally underway in Federal Parliament after Australians delivered a resounding Yes vote in the national postal survey.

More than two months after survey forms began arriving in mail boxes and longer still since the Yes and No campaigns kicked off, ABS chief statistician David Kalisch revealed the decision: "61.6 per cent of clear responses were yes".

It was part of a larger statement but it was enough to prompt emotional celebrations at Yes events around the nation.

Confetti and rainbow flags flew in the air, couples hugged and kissed. Many cried with joy.

At some events people proposed to their partners.

There were also scenes of jubilation inside Parliament House.

Labor's leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, was moved to tears.

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On the other side of the debate, most seemed to accept the outcome.

No campaigner Lyle Shelton, from the Coalition for Marriage, called it a disappointing result but said his group accepted and regarded the decision of the Australian people.

He said his focus wou

Same-sex marriage: This is everyone who didn't vote to support the bill

At least 10 Government MPs chose to abstain from Thursday's final conscience vote on same-sex marriage in the House of Representatives.

In the end there was no official record of the overwhelming support for the bill, because the Government benches were overflowing with Coalition, Labor and crossbench supporters.

Only four MPs voted no — the Coalition's Russell Broadbent, Keith Pitt and David Littleproud, and crossbencher Bob Katter.

According to the standing orders, if fewer than five people oppose a bill, it passes "on the voices" and the names of those who backed it are not officially recorded.

However, a number of staunch opponents of the homosexual marriage bill were notably absent during the vote.

Who abstained from the queer marriage vote?

  • Barnaby Joyce (Nationals)
  • Tony Abbott (Liberals)
  • Andrew Hastie (Liberals)
  • Michael Sukkar (Liberals)
  • Kevin Andrews (Liberals)
  • Scott Morrison (Liberals)
  • George Christensen (LNP)
  • Rick Wilson (Liberals)
  • Stuart Robert (Liberals)
  • Bert van Manen (Liberals)

What about no votes?

  • Bob Katter (independent)
  • Russell Broadbent (L

    Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has dismissed the idea of a referendum on same-sex marriage in his country, after Ireland voted in favour of amending the country's constitution on the issue.

    Photo: RNZ

    All of Ireland's 43 constituencies except one voted in favour of the measure, with the final figures representing 62 percent of votes in favour of the modify and 38 percent against.

    Mr Abbott said "questions of marriage are the preserve of the Commonwealth Parliament".

    "Referendums are held in this land where there's a proposal to transform the constitution," he said.

    "I don't contemplate anyone is suggesting the constitution needs to be changed in this respect."

    Mr Abbott reiterated his opposition to queer marriage and said it is a matter for the Coalition party room to decide whether MPs get a conscience vote, should legislation come before parliament.

    Tony Abbott said "questions of marriage are the preserve of the Commonwealth Parliament". Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

    Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who is in favour of marriage equality, said Mr Abbott now needs explain why the Government is unwilling to pursue the change.

    "If the Irish people can vote in favour

    australia says no to gay marriage

    Australia cancels gay rights referendum

    Gay marriage advocates pledged Tuesday to keep fighting for parliament to change Australia's laws to authorize same-sex couples to marry legally. Australia's upper dwelling had rejected a government proposal 33-29 for a plebiscite of 15 million people on the issue. But after several gay senators, including Labor's Penny Wong and Louise Pratt, made impassioned pleas against the plan, saying it would subject their families to dislike speech, prominent homosexual rights advocates agreed.

    "The plebiscite was a policy that no-one will miss, yet wasting time dancing on its dignified will not accomplish marriage equality," Australian Marriage Equality chair Alex Greenwich said. "Now that the prospect of a plebiscite has been defeated, no-one desire be distracted by a debate by politicians on a public vote versus a parliamentary vote."

    Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's conservative government had planned a February 11 referendum to end what's been a long-running debate in Australian world. He argued that a public vote - around $130 million, (117 million euro), would permit all Australians to express their view.

    Many opinion polls illustrate most Australians s