Tasmania set to allow gay marriages

TASMANIA may become the first Australian state to legalise gay marriage - possibly even as early as this year - after Premier Lara Giddings yesterday vowed her government would pursue the reform. In a development that could shift the debate beyond the anticipated defeat of proposed federal gay marriage laws in coming months, the Tasmanian legislation would also allow couples from outside the stat...

The Age • Aug 6, 2012

Labor MP seeks out gay marriage advocates for bill

Mr Jones is expected to introduce his bill when Parliament resumes next month. It appears likely to be defeated by the combined forces of its Labor opponents - including Prime Minister Julia Gillard - and the Coalition. At its national conference in December, Labor changed its platform to support gay marriage, but granted MPs a conscience vote on the issue. ...

The Age • Jan 6, 2012

Pincer move on Gillard over gay marriage

Pincer move on Gillard over gay marriage December 1, 2011 'Rainbow Labor' ... ALP senator Penny Wong. Photo: Andrew Meares THE Labor Party's two most prominent gay politicians - one from the Right and one from the Left - will spearhead the push for marriage equality, as Julia Gillard struggles to maintain her authority on the issue. ACT Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr, from the Right, will mo...

The Age • Nov 30, 2011

Australia: Left figures oppose conscience vote on gay marriage

A Left convener, Doug Cameron, yesterday joined Mental Health Minister Mark Butler in saying that a conscience vote for MPs - being seen as a face saver on the issue - is not adequate. They say the party should endorse gay marriage and MPs should be bound to vote for it. ...

The Age • Nov 9, 2011

What Gillard needs to hear about same-sex marriage

I want the Prime Minister to understand that what the government says about gay marriage sends a message about what the government thinks of gay people. When you tell me you do not approve of same-sex marriage you are saying only one thing: that I am not as good a person as you because you are heterosexual and that's normal, and I am a lesbian and that's not....

The Age • Jun 20, 2011