Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

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

By Clarrie Burke - posted Tuesday, 14 August 2012


In Queensland politics, pragmatics and expediency rule.

During his election campaign, newly elected Premier, Campbell Newman, announced that, if the LNP won Government, he would look at repealing the Labor legislation on same-sex civil unions. However, in Office, Mr Newman announced that Queensland's law would not be "repealed", but "amended". Despite the fact that this is an issue of civil marriage in a secular State, Newman indicated that the amendment was because the State-sanctioned marriage ceremony offended Christian groups such as The Australian Christian Lobby. "The gay community already had all the rights they needed to not be discriminated against," he said, "... They have nothing to fear from this change." Is that so?

Surrogacy lawyer, Stephen Page, warns that proposed changes to the Queensland Surrogacy Act aim to ban single people, people in de facto relationships of less than two years and same-sex couples having children through "altruistic surrogacy". This move is at odds with the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act. The proposed Queensland legislation would deny the right of surrogacy to same-sex couples. Violation of that law would be an offence punishable by up to three years imprisonment.

Advertisement

Stop prevaricating. Just do it!

The last word goes to Liz Ann Macgregor, Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art (Sydney). After lengthy discussion of marriage equality on Q and A (9/7/12), she drew much applause from the diverse audience when she summed up with an endgame scenario:

I just don't think the politicians are reflecting what the people want. Survey after survey says so [support for marriage equality]. For goodness sake let's just get on with it. It's another of these issues where we see the politicians bickering about it. It will go away. They should just pass it.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. Page 5
  7. All

This is an abridged version of the original article which you can download here.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

28 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Clarrie Burke was formerly Associate Professor in Education at QUT. In retirement he has been an executive member of Amnesty International (Queensland) and joint coordinator of the Queensland Schools Amnesty Network.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Clarrie Burke

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 28 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy