NSW same-sex marriage bill likely to pass

19 Sep 2012, 5:11 pm   -   Source: AAP
Clover Moore is optimistic same-sex marriage laws will be supported by the NSW parliament. (AAP)

Clover Moore is optimistic same-sex marriage laws will be supported by the NSW parliament. (AAP)

A cross-party group is poised to draft a same-sex marriage bill it believes will pass NSW parliament after party leaders allowed a conscience vote.

A same-sex marriage bill should pass NSW parliament after party leaders announced they will let members have a conscience vote, members of a cross-party working group say.

The working group will soon draft a same-sex marriage bill for NSW, expecting similar legislation to be defeated in the federal parliament.

The group includes Nationals MP Trevor Khan, Liberal MP Bruce Notley-Smith, the Greens' Cate Faehrmann, Labor's Penny Sharpe and Sydney independent Clover Moore.

Federal Labor backbencher Stephen Jones' bill to legalise same sex marriage, one of three before federal parliament, was defeated on Wednesday by 98 votes to 42.

But unlike their federal colleagues, NSW coalition MPs have been granted a conscience vote by Premier Barry O'Farrell and Nationals Leader Andrew Stoner, which will help the bill win support.

Opposition Leader John Robertson has also allowed Labor MPs a conscience vote.

Ms Moore, who will retire from parliament this week after she was re-elected as Sydney Lord Mayor earlier this month, said she was optimistic the legislation would be supported by state parliament.

"I believe that if there is a conscience vote in NSW Parliament that bill could be as successful as my same-sex adoption bill was," she said.

"I'm very optimistic about that."

In a joint statement, members of the working group said they wanted change to the final area of law that discriminates against GLBTI (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people.

"We believe that the best result that would deliver marriage equality would be for the federal parliament to pass one of the bills currently before it. However, we recognise that this may not be achieved the first time."

Mr Notley-Smith, who is openly gay, told ABC Radio on Wednesday that although numbers had not been counted yet, he was "optimistic" that a same-sex marriage bill would pass.

While many people are predicting the bill will pass, NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson said it was too early to call the outcome of the vote.

"What I do know is that a conscience vote will allow people to vote based on what they believe, and for a lot of people it's an opportunity for them to talk to their constituency as well and get a reflection on the views of the people they represent," he said.

A spokesman for Ms Faehrmann said the working group would probably use a same-sex marriage bill drafted in Tasmania as a starting point.

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