Page 437 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 16 February 2016
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Australians with the unfortunate compounding prejudice. As you know, this continued delay denies members of the same-sex community equal respect and dignity and discriminates purely on the basis of sexual orientation. The implications of this are obvious: that same sex couples are less capable of being in a stable, loving, resilient and committed relationship.
As we all know too well, repeated exposure to such messages is linked to a high level of depression, anxiety, stress, lower self-esteem, and mental and physical ill health in same-sex attracted people. It has also led to myths spreading in our community about the equality of same-sex relationships, the suitability of same-sex couples as parents, and the most extraordinary suggestion that it somehow threatens those of us who are in so-called normal marriages.
I have previously outlined in this place why I support marriage equality, and I have related how I was brought up in a family where my parents provided me with a firm grounding in social justice and the acceptance of others and the acceptance of difference, because they believed in fairness and equality. I understand that the position I have taken may not align with some in this place, and I also know there are many in the community who are strongly opposed to this change because of their deeply held views, and I respect that.
I also understand that these are not matters of personal belief only. As I said previously, these matters also go to the heart of the basic rights of all Australian citizens. I cannot understand that not giving two people who love one another and are committed to each other the opportunity to marry is somehow correct and somehow fair. My own values and belief system tell me it is patently unfair. I must remain true to my own values and belief system. That is why I say again that marriage is a right and it should be available to all Australians regardless of individual sexual orientation. I believe it is unreasonable and completely unacceptable for the status quo to continue any longer. I am of the view that the federal government should stop dragging out this issue, bring forward the Marriage Equality Bill and put it to the vote without delay.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (3.44): I thank Ms Porter for bringing this matter before the Assembly today. I note that this is now the second week in a row when the topic of the matter of public importance is a matter that is, by law, in the federal domain. As Ms Berry said with respect to penalty rates, these are federal matters, and we find ourselves in the same position today.
I want to talk about some of the issues that Ms Porter raised, and I want to make a point about the legislative process with regard to same-sex marriage and the bill that was brought before the Assembly in 2013. Legal opinion, including from the commonwealth Attorney-General, was that the legislation was unlawful and invalid because it was a federal jurisdiction matter.
Members of the opposition, whether they support same-sex marriage or not—some of us do; some of us do not—looked at the legal opinion and made a deduction based on that opinion that it was clear and evident that the legislation was invalid. Regardless, the government pursued the legislation, and ignored the requests of the federal Attorney-General at the time, who said, “You’ve passed this legislation. Just delay the
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