http://australianpolitics.com Resources, News & Commentary from Malcolm Farnsworth Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:23:43 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Resources, News & Commentary from Malcolm Farnsworth AustralianPolitics.com no Resources, News & Commentary from Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://australianpolitics.com/category/issues/equality http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/15/house-of-representatives-debates-gay-marriage-resolution.html http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/15/house-of-representatives-debates-gay-marriage-resolution.html#comments Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:39:43 +0000 Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/?p=1740 http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/15/house-of-representatives-debates-gay-marriage-resolution.html/feed 3 Adam Bandt,Andrew Wilkie,Bruce Billson,equal marriage,gay marriage,Malcolm Turnbull,Philip Ruddock,Sharon Grierson,Shayne Neumann,Stephen Jones,Teresa Gambaro,Warren Entsch An impressive debate began in the House of Representatives tonight on a motion by the Greens member, Adam Bandt, calling on parliamentarians to gauge their constituents' views on the issue of marriage equality. - Bandt's motion reads: An impressive debate began in the House of Representatives tonight on a motion by the Greens member, Adam Bandt, calling on parliamentarians to gauge their constituents' views on the issue of marriage equality. Bandt's motion reads: That this House: (1) notes there is: (a) a growing list of countries that allow same-sex couples to marry including the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, SPain, Canada and South Africa; and (b) widespread support for equal marriage in the Australian community; and (2) calls on all parliamentarians to gauge their constituents' views on the issue of marriage equality. Speaking to the motion, Bandt said, "there have been many attempts through history to limit love and all have failed". The text of his speech is at the end of this page. Click the PLAY button to listen to Bandt's speech: PLAY The motion was opposed by the Liberal member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock. Click PLAY to listen to Ruddock's speech: PLAY The new Labor member for Throsby, Stephen Jones then moved an amendment to the motion, as shown below: That all the words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words: “this House calls on all parliamentarians, consistent with their duties as representatives, to gauge their constituents’ views on ways to achieve equal treatment for same sex couples including marriage” Click PLAY to listen to Jones's speech. The full text is at the end of this page. PLAY The following members then spoke on the resolution, until the debate was adjourned: Bruce Billson - Liberal, Dunkley PLAY Sharon Grierson - ALP, Newcastle PLAY Warren Entsch - Liberal, Leichhardt PLAY Andrew Wilkie - Independent, Denison PLAY Malcolm Turnbull - Liberal, Wentworth PLAY Shayne Neumann - ALP, Blair PLAY Teresa Gambaro - Liberal, Brisbane PLAY This is the draft text of Adam Bandt's speech on his equal marriage resolution: Love knows no boundaries. Love knows no limits. And love knows when it has found its partner. Mr Speaker, there have been many attempts through history to limit love. And all have failed. And as we move further into the 21st century I am confident that attempts to limit love will fail again, that full marriage equality will become a reality. Mr Speaker, this motion before the Parliament does not seek to overturn the Howard government's change to the Marriage Act which sought to limit marriage to a few. My colleague Senator Sarah Hanson Young has a bill before Parliament that when passed will amend the Marriage Act to enshrine the right for all Australian's to marry regardless of their gender or sexuality. And in time the Greens will move for that bill to be debated. Instead this motion seeks to provide an opportunity for members of Parliament, the media and most importantly the community to discuss the importance of Marriage Equality. The motion is not binding on Members of Parliament or the government its passage will not in itself legally endorse or ratify the right to marriage equality. Rather it will acknowledge the reality of community opinion in Australia which has changed. The motion reads: That this House: (1) Notes that: (a) There is a growing list of countries that allow same-sex couples to marry including the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Canada and South Africa; and (b) there is widespread support for equal marriage in the Australian community. (2) Calls on all parliamentarians to gauge their constituents' views on the issue of marriage equality. In moving this motion The Greens want Parliament to acknowledge that Australian public opinion is changing. We also want Parliament to acknowledge that change is happening around the world. And we want those who are still stuck in the old way of thinking to go out and engage with the people in their electorates to find out where are now at. AustralianPolitics.com no http://australianpolitics.com/2008/11/07/new-conversation-about-equality-needed-says-plibersek.html http://australianpolitics.com/2008/11/07/new-conversation-about-equality-needed-says-plibersek.html#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:21:32 +0000 Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/?p=406 http://australianpolitics.com/2008/11/07/new-conversation-about-equality-needed-says-plibersek.html/feed 0