Gay marriage nsw
It's been six months since Australia declared that marriage is no longer an exclusively heterosexual institution. In that time, approximately lgbtq+ couples have been married, with NSW having the most weddings, closely followed by Victoria and Queensland. Many more couples, who married overseas before marriage equality was achieved here, have finally had their marriages recognised under Australian law.
The Census revealed that there are 46, homosexual couples living together in Australia. Of these couples, reported they were the husband or wife of someone of the equal sex (presumably because they were married overseas). If we combine this figure with the number of same-sex marriages registered in the past six months, it appears that more than 10 per cent of same-sex couples who reside together are now married.
What’s changed?
During the postal survey, the 'No' campaign warned of dire consequences if the institution of marriage was opened up to non-heterosexual couples. There was a stream of ads asserting that boys would launch wearing dresses to college, students would rol
Marriage equality
Decriminalisation of homosexuality
From the s the socially progressive South Australian Labor government wanted to repeal laws criminalising homosexuality.
However, it was not until the May murder in Adelaide of Dr George Duncan, a rule lecturer and homosexual man, that premier, Don Dunstan, assessed that the society mood was receptive to reform.
Dr Duncan’s murder led to revelations of how commonplace violence and harassment against lesbian people was.
South Australia’s Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, was enacted on 2 October It was a landmark in LGBTQIA+ rights in Australia because it fully decriminalised queer acts.
Equivalent law reform was passed by the Australian Capital Territory in , Victoria in , the Northern Area in , Fresh South Wales in , Western Australia in , Queensland in and Tasmania in
Same-sex couples living together in Australia
By Brigid McManus, Social Justice Intern
The federal government plans to hold a plebiscite on same-sex marriage before the end of This page sets out responses to some frequently asked questions on the topic.
In Australia, a ‘plebiscite’ means a popular vote on an important public interrogate. It can be distinguished from a ‘referendum’, which is a popular vote on a proposed amendment to the Commonwealth Constitution or a State constitution.
The legal consequences of a plebiscite and a referendum are different. A plebiscite generally has no legal effect and Parliament is not required to execute in accordance with the result. In this respect, a plebiscite is top described as a mechanism for testing public view on an issue. By contrast, the result of a federal referendum is binding. A proposal that achieves the threshold specified in section of the Constitution (a national majority of votes plus majorities in four states) must be presented to the Governor-General for royal assent. Conversely, no amendment can be effected in the event that this threshold is not rea