SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LAWS IN AUSTRALIA
1961: Australia introduces its first Marriage Act, which does not include a formal definition of marriage
2004: Marriage Act is amended to define marriage as a union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, and bans the recognition of overseas same-sex unions
2004-15: About 20 attempts are made to introduce laws to legalise same-sex marriage to no avail
2015: Coalition government commits to a national plebiscite on same-sex marriage
2016: Senate rejects government's plebiscite plan
August 2017: Senate knocks backs plebiscite proposal again. Coalition government pursues a national voluntary postal survey instead, with ballot papers sent out the following month
November 2017: 61.6 per cent of eligible Australians vote in favour of changing the law to allow same-sex couples to marry
December 2017: Same-sex couples will be allowed to marry in Australia after new laws clear parliament.
