As the Federal Government considers three private members bills to legalise same-sex marriage, a leading American academic visiting the country launched a report suggesting that Tasmania could reap almost $100 million towards its economy should it become the first state to move for marriage equality.

Professor Lee Badgett, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts and Director of the Williams Institute at UCLA, was in Tasmania today to present the report to political and business leaders, including Premier Lara Giddings.