Australia will hopefully have SSM by Christmas

[mr friendly guy]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-16/s ... n=politics

Same-sex marriage: After a year's work, Dean Smith's bill is set to pass by Christmas
By political reporters Jane Norman and Stephanie Borys
Updated about an hour ago

The path has been cleared for same-sex marriage to be legalised by Christmas, with debate on Liberal Senator Dean Smith's bill set to begin today.

Key points:

Senator Smith to use speech to speak to No voters and "reassure [them] there's nothing to fear"
There is support to extend protections to charities, ABC News understands
Libs and Nats for Yes campaign's full-page newspaper ad demands Parliament "act without delay"
When the West Australian Senator rises to his feet, it will mark the culmination of more than a year's work behind the scenes, piecing together the process required to see the change through.

Senator Smith plans to use his speech to speak to the 4 million Australians who voted No in the same-sex marriage survey.

"I suspect there are some people who are looking for reassurance, who want that little bit of extra reassurance that everything will be OK, that there's nothing to fear," he said.
"That is my job, to provide that reassurance."

His bill will now be the only one considered by Federal Parliament, after Liberal Senator James Paterson dumped his alternative, more conservative plan, conceding it had little support among colleagues.

Two women hold a rainbow flag in Canberra's Haig Park.
PHOTO: Every state and territory returned a Yes result. (ABC News: Clare Sibthorpe)
There were ugly scenes on Wednesday morning when Nationals Senators accused the Government of "blindsiding" them with Senator Smith's bill, and threatened to try to delay its introduction.

But, following the emphatic victory of the Yes campaign, they effectively folded in the face of pressure from Government heavyweights, who are determined to resolve the issue quickly.

Parliament 'will continue to sit until bill dealt with'

Nearly 80 per cent of voters took part in the national postal survey — exceeding all expectations — and every state and territory returned a Yes result.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described it as an historic day and, while he is anticipating "a lot of amendments" would be moved, he said he was confident same-sex marriage would be legalised by Christmas.

Media player: "Space" to play, "M" to mute, "left" and "right" to seek.
VIDEO: Malcolm Turnbull says same-sex marriage result is 'unequivocal and overwhelming' (ABC News)
There are just two sitting weeks until Parliament rises for the year, but Finance Minister Mathias Cormann warned no-one would be going home until the bill was dealt with.

"If the consideration of the legislation hasn't been finalised by the end of Thursday, November 30, then we will continue to sit until it is finally dealt with," Senator Cormann told 7.30.
Media player: "Space" to play, "M" to mute, "left" and "right" to seek.
VIDEO: Mathias Cormann says he will vote Yes for marriage bill (7.30)
Support to extend protections to charities, ABC understands

Full SSM survey results


See how people who live near you responded to the same-sex marriage postal survey.
Senator Smith's bill, which has cross-party support, would ensure religious ministers cannot be sued if they refuse to marry same-sex couples.

However, Attorney-General George Brandis wants to move amendments to extend that protection to all civil celebrants, as well as anyone wanting to express a view against same-sex marriage.

One Coalition MP dismissed the proposed changes as an attempt to placate the conservatives and said it was highly unlikely the Senate would back them.

But it is understood there is support to extend protections to charities in the bill, to ensure they do not lose Government contracts because of their views on marriage.

Media player: "Space" to play, "M" to mute, "left" and "right" to seek.
VIDEO: 'Welcome to a more free, inclusive and equal Australia,' says Liberal MP Tim Wilson (ABC News)
Former Howard Government minister and leader of the Libs and Nats for Yes campaign Amanda Vanstone said there was clearly an argument for protecting institutions from potential legal action — but not businesses.

"Listen to amendments — but not amendments, for heaven's sake, about cake shops," she said.

"If you have a fundamental religious objection to marrying two gay people, I think that's fair enough.

"But if you just don't happen to like gay people, I don't think that should entitle you to say 'no gays allowed' in your cake shop."
Emboldened by their win, the campaign — backed by high-profile Coalition MPs — has taken out a full-page newspaper advertisement demanding Parliament "act without delay" and "reject attempts to reintroduce lawful discrimination".

Number of Labor seats opposed to SSM a warning for party

A surprising element of the survey was the number of Labor-held seats — particularly in Western Sydney — opposed to same-sex marriage.

Nine of the 17 electorates that voted No are held by Labor — delivering a strong note of warning for the party.

My father's marriage turnaround


Dad was disappointed I was gay. I never thought he'd change his mind and vote Yes.
One of those Labor MPs is Member for Fowler Chris Hayes, who voted No on his same-sex marriage survey — as did 64 percent of his electorate.

Mr Hayes was not surprised by the figures.

"My electorate has a high level of religious observants. We have a lot of new arrivals to this country — many come from war-torn areas," he said.
"We have a high Vietnamese population and, of the Vietnamese population, an extremely high level of practicing Catholics."

Despite his personal position and that of his electorate, Mr Hayes will support Senator Smith's bill, arguing it would be "hypocritical to participate in the national survey and not accept its results".

But Mr Hayes said he was working on a separate proposal to protect religious freedoms.

"I think the churches and other religious organisations do have legitimate concerns when it comes to religious liberty … but I don't think they should all be addressed in one piece of legislation," he said.
It is understood he will take his proposal to caucus, with the intention of putting it out for discussion to religious groups and interested parties before the end of the year.

[mr friendly guy]

Bill has passed senate

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-29/s ... te/9202478

[mr friendly guy]

And it's done. First gay marriages can occur from Jan 9. Now John Howard and Tony Abbott can go fuck themselves. Or at least when Abbott is not displaying such high Christian values like pre marital sex that is.

[The Romulan Republic]

Congratulations, Australia.

I really think that, at least in the Western World, the tide has turned decisively on this issue. I won't say "permanently", because nothing in this world is permanent, and the greatest enemy of justice is complacency.

But its telling that even in the US, where we now have a far Right regime who's leadership has stopped only just short of openly endorsing Neo-Nazism and child molestation, and is in the process of effectively gutting net neutrality and the social safety net, I hear very little about repealing gay marriage.

This is the new norm. About damn time.

[AniThyng]

Nine of the 17 electorates that voted No are held by Labor — delivering a strong note of warning for the party.

One of those Labor MPs is Member for Fowler Chris Hayes, who voted No on his same-sex marriage survey — as did 64 percent of his electorate.

Mr Hayes was not surprised by the figures.

"My electorate has a high level of religious observants. We have a lot of new arrivals to this country — many come from war-torn areas," he said.
"We have a high Vietnamese population and, of the Vietnamese population, an extremely high level of practicing Catholics."

Worth thinking about - all well and good if not enough to turn a national election, but certainly local effects.