Last Chance: The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs is holding an inquiry into the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2012 (introduced by Labor MP Stephen Jones) and the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012 (introduced by Greens MP Adam Bandt).
The two bills amend the Marriage Act 1961 to legalise homosexual marriage and to recognise homosexual marriages performed in foreign countries. It will substitute the words “a man and a woman” with the words “two people”
The closing date for public responses is 5PM EST 20 April 2012. The report is expected to be tabled on 18 June 2012. Send comments to The Secretary of the Committee on 02 6277 4969 or email SPLAmarriagebills@aph.gov.au
Action: the Committee and the Australian Marriage Forum is asking people to take an online survey on their views of the amendment to the Marriage Act. To undertake survey: https://www.surveymk.com/s/spla-marriage
As at April 19 almost 58% were in favour of changing the definition of marriage.
Action: Saltshakers is asking people to inform their local Federal MP and the leader of the Liberal and Labor parties of the recent European Court decision
In addition, on 8 February 2012 the Senate referred the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2010 for inquiry and report.
This private senator’s bill was introduced by Senator Hanson-Young.
The Submissions period closed 2 April 2012 and the reporting date for the inquiry is 6 June 2012. The committee received 75,000 submissions, approx 44,000 support the bill, 31, 000 oppose the bill.
For submissions, including from Yvonne Henderson, Commissioner for Equal Opportunity, the Australian Christian Lobby, Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings, Endeavour Forum, Saltshakers, the Association for Reformed Political Action (submission 118) click here.
For more on the inquiry: click here
Action: The Association for Reformed Political Action and Saltshakers is calling on people to write to their Federal MPs asking them to reject any moves by their party to introduce homosexual marriage by changing the Marriage Act.
Action: Bill Muehlenberg, from Culturewatch asks people to write to Tony Abbott encouraging him to stand strong. His email address is: Tony.Abbott.MP@aph.gov.au
Action: www.MakeAStand.org.au is asking people to write a letter to their local MP. As at 19 April 2012 24,740 had used this service.
