The current senate inquiries into same-sex law reform have been moved from September 30 to October 8.

The Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee extended the timeline for the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws – Superannuation) Bill and the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—General Law Reform) Bill reports on Tuesday without apparent reason.

Corey Irlam, Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) spokesperson, conjectured that it could be the sheer number of the bills presented, or that amendments may be needed to accommodate the proposed new federal family law reforms. In addition, the senate has been hearing submissions from groups such as the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.

Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, debate over the omnibus bill to amend 68 laws removing discrimination against same-sex couples became heated when Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull failed to deliver a speech at the start of the second hearing on Monday.

Jim Turnour, Labor Member for Leichhardt, Queensland, attacked Turnbull for not appearing. “It is very clear that the Leader of the Opposition…who has a very large gay and lesbian community in his electorate, is no doubt talking to members of his party about how they are going to shuffle this out and play some politics around marriage in terms of this legislation,” Turnour told the floor.

“It’s disappointing that Turnbull didn’t lead the Opposition’s response to the government’s bill,” Irlam told SX. “However, the true test will be whether he can get this reform through his party room without too many amendments.”

The hearing was due to resume as SX went to press, with Turnbull expected to state his position in parliament.

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