Australia: Greens seek inquiry to explore gay marriage

SAME-SEX marriage advocates hope a parliamentary inquiry could help persuade sympathetic Liberals to cross the floor when the matter comes to a vote. "This is an issue that's been debated throughout the community and now the community is streets and streets ahead of the elected representatives," Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said yesterday. She would move for the inquiry when parliament retur...

The Australian • Jan 24, 2012

Psychologists urge support of gay marriage as beneficial to mental health

THE Australian Psychological Society has urged federal parliamentarians to change the law to allow same-sex marriage on the grounds of mental health and wellbeing. The body, which represents 20,000 psychologists across the country, yesterday urged a change in the Marriage Act, citing evidence that marriage is beneficial for an individual's mental health and that harm is caused by social exclusion...

The Australian • Dec 22, 2011

Abbott demands Coalition unity on gay marriage vote

TONY Abbott has toughened his position against a conscience vote on gay marriage, declaring that every member of the Coalition was elected on a platform that marriage was only between a man and a woman. While the Opposition Leader says the party's position on a conscience vote still has to be discussed at a shadow cabinet meeting this week and in the party room next year he thinks it is important...

The Australian • Dec 13, 2011

Julia Gillard loses on same-sex marriage despite win on surplus

THE Labor Party's national conference will today reject Julia Gillard's position on marriage equality by amending its platform to support same-sex marriage. But factional leaders were last night working to rescue the Prime Minister from the indignity of having to implement a policy she opposes by moving to grant MPs a conscience vote on the issue, virtually guaranteeing that any legislation allow...

The Australian • Dec 2, 2011