HOBART — On April 12, the Greens introduced a bill into the Tasmanian parliament allowing for same-sex marriages and have called for a parliamentary committee to discuss the issue.

Despite calling the Greens’ move “a stunt”, Labor attorney-general Judy Jackson said that the issue should go to a committee for debate “if it can be shown that states” have the constitutional authority to adopt such legislation. She has called for legal advice.

While the Liberals are unequivocally opposed to same sex marriage, the Greens’ move has exposed differences in the ALP. Despite the clear passage of a motion supporting same sex marriage at the ALP’s last state conference, several Labor MPs have publicly opposed this position.

On April 13, Deputy Premier David Llewellyn supported a parliamentary motion from the Liberals opposing the “principle” of gay marriage. Labor backbencher David Bartlett also spoke against same sex marriage but said he would “regrettably” vote in support of the Labor Party’s position.

Alex Bainbridge

From Green Left Weekly, April 20, 2005.
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