NSW parliament to debate same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage laws will be debated in NSW state parliament next week, with a working group confident it can withstand a high court challenge.

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Marriage equality supporters Samantha Lawson and Colette Discombe leave after the debate on the Marriage Equality bill at the ACT Legislative Assembly in Canberra, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013.

Same-sex marriage laws will be debated in NSW parliament next week, with a cross-party working group ready to put a bill forward.

The group consisting of Liberal, National, Greens, Labor and independent members say the bill follows community and legal consultation, including a parliamentary inquiry that found NSW has the constitutional power to legislate on marriage.

Labor MLC Penny Sharpe said she will introduce the bill next Thursday.

"The community and parliament can be confident we have done our due diligence to ensure we have the strongest bill possible; one that will allow loving and committed same-sex couples to marry in NSW and one that will withstand any high court challenge," she said.

The ACT legislative assembly on Tuesday narrowly passed a marriage equality bill.

The first ceremonies will be held from December, provided the federal government doesn't seek an injunction.


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