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Marriage equality defeat: where to from here?
By Paula Gerber The 98 to 42 defeat of the Marriage Equality Bill in the House of Representatives this week has almost been overshadowed by the circus that surrounded the lead up to the vote, including Liberal Senator Cory Benardi’s vile comments regarding bestiality, and Nationals Senator Ron Boswell’s offensive remarks about same-sex parents. But…
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Same sex marriage could become a constitutional battleground
by Sarah Joseph On the weekend it was reported that Tasmania intends to legalise same sex marriage despite the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961 defining “marriage” as being between a man and a woman. Given that apparent discrepancy, does Tasmania have the power under our Constitution to pass a same-sex marriage law? I will briefly answer…
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Doctors’ views on same-sex marriage are ill-informed
By Paula Gerber The Herald Sun has reported (13 May 2012) that 22 Victorian doctors have come out in opposition to same-sex marriage on the basis that “the evidence is clear that children who grow up in a family with a mother and father do better in all parameters than children without“. The clear inference…
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It’s Time we Got Rid of an Institution that is for Heterosexuals only
By Paula Gerber We no longer stand for ‘white’s only’ institutions, but inAustraliawe still tolerate an institution that is reserved for only heterosexuals, namely the institution of marriage. There is a global trend towards open up the institution of marriage to all couples who wish to wed, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. Same-sex…
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Opening up Marriage to Same-sex Couples
By Paula Gerber On 16th November 2010, I had a bit of a chat with Jon Faine on 774 ABC radio about why same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. While there are numerous justifications for ending the ban on same-sex marriage, I focused on the following arguments: 1. Same-sex marriage is in the best…
Castan Centre for Human Rights Law 