ACT moves to legalise gay civil unions

11 Aug 2012, 6:20 pm   -   Source: AAP
The ACT government is set to reintroduce laws legalising civil unions. (AAP)

The ACT government is set to reintroduce laws legalising civil unions. (AAP)

The ACT government is set to reintroduce laws legalising civil unions, giving same-sex couples the same rights as couples wed under the Marriage Act.

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The ACT is set to reintroduce laws to legalise gay civil unions, giving same-sex couples the same rights as couples wed under the Marriage Act.

ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell said the Civil Unions Bill was set to pass the Legislative Assembly when debated next week.

That follows an ACT Greens decision to support the Bill.

Previously, ACT Greens had hesitated on grounds it could undercut the push for a national law.

Mr Corbell said the Labor bill would take the next step towards equal relationship rights for same-sex couples by fully restoring ceremonies as a legal binding aspect of a civil union.

"The ACT Labor Government has a proud record of working to further the rights of same-sex couples, and this legislation is an important step forward," he said in a statement.

The legislation will return the ACT to 2006 when it passed civil union laws, which were promptly overturned by the former Howard government which viewed this as an attempt to undermine 2004 federal legislation which defined marriage as a union between a man and woman to the exclusion of all others.

Mr Corbell said the ACT government would bring on debate of the Bill in the first week of the August sittings.

He said he was surprised the ACT Greens hesitated on supporting this legislation.

"But I am happy to see that they have made a responsible decision," he said.

Mr Corbell said this Bill would replace the existing ACT Civil Partnerships Act 2008, fully restoring the role of ceremonies and celebrants, strengthening the ceremonial aspect of a civil union.

Rallies in support of gay marriage are being staged throughout Australia on Saturday.

Australian Marriage Equality national convener Alex Greenwich said a poll released this week showed support for marriage equality at its highest ever level of 64 per cent.

"Public and parliamentary support for marriage equality is at its highest ever," he said in a statement.

"This is because politicians and everyday Australians are continuing to open their hearts and minds to the importance of the reform."

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