Former High Court judge Michael Kirby and Johan van Vloten have been together more than 48 year and they are just like any other couple. David Kirby, former NSW Supreme Court judge, raises questions as follows through the comment published in the SMH: What rational objection could there be to such a marriage? What business is it of others? How would it in any way jeopardise the union that may exist between others?
Mr Kirby strongly argues that the suggestion by Tony Abbott that such marriages amount to "such huge change" that it "would shake society's foundations" is absurd. The same change has been adopted in 24 other countries, with a total population of 760 million people. The gruesome changes predicted have not materialised. Such fears are a debating trick, aimed at diverting attention from the simple proposition that to deny the facility of civil marriage to a minority in our community is unfair.
He emphasizes that gays have suffered enough and it is definitely past time to turn the page.
