Infidelitas
September 20th, 2011, 03:59 AM
Thank fuck someone has a brain.
TASMANIA'S Parliament is set to become the first in Australia to vote in favour of same-sex marriage after Premier Lara Giddings indicated she would support a Greens motion on the issue.
Greens leader Nick McKim will today table a motion in support of marriage equality and calling on the Federal Government to reform marriage laws.
He says he will push state-based legislation if Canberra does not act by the end of the year.
Ms Giddings last night said the Labor Party would support Mr McKim's motion.
"The Tasmanian Labor Party supports the principle of same-sex marriage on the basis that it provides equality for all," she said.
"This position was reaffirmed by rank and file members at the most recent state conference.
"This is the position we will be taking in response to the motion put forward by Greens leader Nick McKim.
"We will be considering Mr McKim's motion over the coming days and we want to ensure that the language is strong so as to send a clear message that we are prepared to see reform in this area."
The announcement came as it was revealed a majority of Tasmanians support changes to the law to allow same-sex marriage.
The EMRS poll of of 1000 adults found 59 per cent agreed that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry, with 35 per cent disagreeing and 6 per cent unsure.
Support for changes to present laws was strongest among women, young people, those on higher incomes and those living in the state's South. Older Tasmanians were least inclined to support same-sex marriage.
The survey coincides with a push by the Greens for Parliament to pass a motion in support of same-sex marriage.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome said those opposing reform were in the minority.
"The poll that's been released today shows a clear majority of Tasmanians believe same-sex couples should be able to marry," he said. "And I think that sends an equally clear message to our parliamentarians that they should be supporting this issue.
"I think this poll shows clearly that Tasmanians understand this issue is not about religious concerns or moral concerns but about love, commitment and family, values that we all share.
Mr McKim called on the Liberals to back his motion.
"Clearly, an overwhelming majority of Tasmanians support reform to legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry," he said.
"Contrary to claims from the out-of-touch Liberal Party, it is clear the majority of Tasmanians support marriage equality and it is now time for all parliamentarians to get behind this push to remove this legally entrenched discrimination."
Liberal leader Will Hodgman said he was happy for party members to vote according to their consciences on same-sex marriage, but he believed the Parliament had more important issues to deal with.
"The Tasmanian Liberal position is consistent. We support the definition of marriage under the Commonwealth laws," he said. "Our priorities will be focusing on Tasmanian jobs, getting the economy moving in the right direction, keeping the cost of living down."
Source (http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/09/20/262641_tasmania-news.html)
TASMANIA'S Parliament is set to become the first in Australia to vote in favour of same-sex marriage after Premier Lara Giddings indicated she would support a Greens motion on the issue.
Greens leader Nick McKim will today table a motion in support of marriage equality and calling on the Federal Government to reform marriage laws.
He says he will push state-based legislation if Canberra does not act by the end of the year.
Ms Giddings last night said the Labor Party would support Mr McKim's motion.
"The Tasmanian Labor Party supports the principle of same-sex marriage on the basis that it provides equality for all," she said.
"This position was reaffirmed by rank and file members at the most recent state conference.
"This is the position we will be taking in response to the motion put forward by Greens leader Nick McKim.
"We will be considering Mr McKim's motion over the coming days and we want to ensure that the language is strong so as to send a clear message that we are prepared to see reform in this area."
The announcement came as it was revealed a majority of Tasmanians support changes to the law to allow same-sex marriage.
The EMRS poll of of 1000 adults found 59 per cent agreed that gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry, with 35 per cent disagreeing and 6 per cent unsure.
Support for changes to present laws was strongest among women, young people, those on higher incomes and those living in the state's South. Older Tasmanians were least inclined to support same-sex marriage.
The survey coincides with a push by the Greens for Parliament to pass a motion in support of same-sex marriage.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome said those opposing reform were in the minority.
"The poll that's been released today shows a clear majority of Tasmanians believe same-sex couples should be able to marry," he said. "And I think that sends an equally clear message to our parliamentarians that they should be supporting this issue.
"I think this poll shows clearly that Tasmanians understand this issue is not about religious concerns or moral concerns but about love, commitment and family, values that we all share.
Mr McKim called on the Liberals to back his motion.
"Clearly, an overwhelming majority of Tasmanians support reform to legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry," he said.
"Contrary to claims from the out-of-touch Liberal Party, it is clear the majority of Tasmanians support marriage equality and it is now time for all parliamentarians to get behind this push to remove this legally entrenched discrimination."
Liberal leader Will Hodgman said he was happy for party members to vote according to their consciences on same-sex marriage, but he believed the Parliament had more important issues to deal with.
"The Tasmanian Liberal position is consistent. We support the definition of marriage under the Commonwealth laws," he said. "Our priorities will be focusing on Tasmanian jobs, getting the economy moving in the right direction, keeping the cost of living down."
Source (http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/09/20/262641_tasmania-news.html)