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Gay activists have welcomed the Tasmanian Greens’ renewed push for same-sex marriage in the state.
The Tasmanian Greens announced last week that they will table the Same Sex Marriage Bill 2008 when the House of Assembly resumes on July 1.
The laws would expand upon Tasmania’s civil partnership registries, and provide gay adoption rights.
“Most Tasmanians share the values of tolerance and respect on which this legislation is based,” said Greens Deputy Leader Nick McKim.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group (TGLRG) spokes-person, Rodney Croome, said that the reforms will generate debate and greater support for GLBT rights.
“Both major parties opposed the reform when the Greens first introduced the legislation in 2005, but we’re still hopeful that the government will want to investigate the matter further,” Croome told SX.
Croome hopes that the government will send the legislation to an inquiry, but believes it is unlikely that Prime Minster Rudd will veto the bill.
“The PM can’t veto it. If the Federal Government wanted to override these laws it would have to amend the Marriage Act to establish some kind of inconsistency between Federal and State law, and then it would be resolved in the High Court,” Croome said.
“It would be a more complex process than what we saw with the ACT.”
In the same week, the Hobart City Council has announced that they will apologise to the gay and lesbian community at a civic reception later in the year, for closing down a gay law reform stall 20 years ago at Salamanca Market.
“It sets an important precedent for official apologies for wrongs done to LGBT Australians,” Croome told SX.
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