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Six months after marriage equality there’s much to celebrate – and still much to do
By Dr Paula Gerber, Monash University It has been six months since Australia declared that marriage is no longer an exclusively heterosexual institution. In that time, approximately 2,500 same-sex 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…
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THE HIGH COURT DECIDES – THE MARRIAGE SURVEY WILL PROCEED
By Maria O’Sullivan Today the High Court handed down a decision that will have ramifications for a very important social issue: the lack of marriage equality in Australia. In the two cases – Wilkie and others v The Commonwealth and Australian Marriage Equality Ltd and others v Minister for Finance – the High Court rejected…
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A plebiscite on same-sex marriage would be inconsistent with children’s rights
By Paula Gerber The Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs is conducting an inquiry into whether Australia should have a plebiscite on same-sex marriage. It has received a total of 36 submissions from individuals and organisations, which are both for and against holding a national vote. The committee conducted public hearings on September 10.…
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A Constitutional Referendum: a Hail Mary for those opposed to Marriage Equality
A constitutional referendum: a ‘Hail Mary’ for those opposed to same-sex marriage Sarah Joseph, Monash University On Tuesday, August 11, prospects for same-sex marriage legislation in Australia in the near future were quashed when the governing Coalition partyroom voted against a conscience vote in favour of maintaining opposition to same-sex marriage. However, senior members of…
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With no Coalition free vote, where to now on the road to same-sex marriage?
By Paula Gerber The much-anticipated announcement of the government’s position on same-sex marriage raised more questions than it answered. By rejecting a free vote on same-sex marriage for Coalition MPs during this term of parliament, the government ensured that Australia will continue to be the only developed English-speaking country in the world where marriage is an…
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No Andrew, it is not the responsibility of the LGBT community to help you hang on to your 1950s ideal of marriage
By Paula Gerber As a long time supporter of marriage equality and the rights of LGBT people, I generally find my views are diametrically opposed to those of conservative commentator Andrew Bolt. Imagine my surprise then to find Bolt citing my work to support his argument that the gay community must now adopt a conservative…
Castan Centre for Human Rights Law 