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Cross-party co-operation on gay marriage |
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News -
Australian News
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Written by Alex Greenwich
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Thursday, 09 February 2012 08:01 |
ADVOCATES CALL FOR CROSS-PARTY CO-OPERATION TO ACHIEVE MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Marriage equality advocates have called on supporters of the issue from all parties to work together to achieve reform.
The call comes in response to today's announcement by Greens MP, Adam Bandt, and Tasmanian independent, Andrew Wilkie, that they will introduce their marriage equality bill ahead of Labor back-bencher, Stephen Jones, who has flagged he will also introduce similar legislation.
Yesterday, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young referred her marriage equality bill to an inquiry.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said reform cannot be achieved unless parliamentary supporters work together.
"No single party has the capacity to achieve reform, so we hope people from all sides of politics, including the Coalition, can work together in a strategic and effective way to deliver a reform that a majority of Australians want."
"We welcome the commitment to marriage equality from Andrew Wilkie, the Greens, and ALP members like Stephen Jones, and we call on them all to work co-operatively to achieve reform."
Advocates have called for all existing bills to be submitted to the multi-party Senate inquiry into same-sex marriage.
Mr Greenwich said this will ensure the best possible marriage equality bill is presented to parliament.
"The many Australian couples and families who are disadvantaged by exclusion from marriage deserve the best possible chance of seeing that exclusion ended."
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