Tying the knot: quest for same-sex marriage in Australia

Croatian Prime Minister, Zoran Milanovic, has declared that: "I think we must go forward, and be inspired by the most advanced countries in the world. Giving stronger civil legal rights to gay communities will not deprive anyone of their rights."

Scotland's Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, recently announced that marriage equality was the "right thing to do". Scotland is planning to introduce legislation that would enable same-sex couples to marry in 2015.

Western countries have granted same-sex marriage

The Netherlandsled the way in legalizing same-sex marriage, in 2000.

Belgium(2003) followed.

In turn, Canada (2005),Spain (2005), South Africa (2006), Norway (2008), Sweden (2009), Portugal (2010), Iceland (2010), and Argentina (2010) committed to this view.

Tensions in Australian politics

The Howard-led Government amended the 1961 Marriage Act (2004) to ensure that same-sex couples legally married overseas would not be recognized here in Australia. This was to ensure "survival of the species". Same-sex couples were targeted as a threat to procreation.

In 2011, in Federal Parliament, a conscience vote was proposed for when the proposed same-sex marriage legislation is brought before Parliament. Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott immediately disallowed members of the Coalition a conscience vote.

Abbott is not unanimously supported within his own Party. Malcolm Turnbull for instance, polled his Liberal electorate to gauge public opinion. A clear majority were in favour of same-sex marriage (68 %). Turnbull acknowledged that community views on this issue were changing.

The Prime Minister's opposition to marriage equality is puzzling. During a dinner held at the Lodge with marriage equality advocates earlier this year, the PM admitted that Australia's lagging behind the growing number of nations which have already granted same-sex marriage was putting increasing pressure on Australia, and that, as more countries embrace this reform, it will become increasingly apparent that this is a reform whose time has come. Marriage equality in Australia was "inevitable", and her opposition to this social reform was "not immovable", she said.

The Prime Minister's opposing view is personal – unaffected by a Senate inquiry which drew 75,000 submissions and resulted in a clear majority supporting same-sex marriage (44,000 in favour and 31,000 against). The PM is also out of step with her own electorate of Lalor, where many more are in favour than against (45% in favour, 34% against, 21% don't care.).