Australia: New South Wales equal marriage efforts fail as bill is narrowly defeated
A bill to legalise same-sex marriage in the Australian state of New South Wales has failed in a narrow vote of 19 to 21.
Members of the State Legislative Council voted against allowing New South Wales to become the second Australian state to legalise marriage rights for same-sex coupes.
The news came after ABC released a poll showing that 53% of state voters supported equal marriage.
Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome said: “Even though the question was about keeping marriage in its current form rather than about allowing same-sex couples to marry, the result still showed majority support for reform.
“This indicates a high level of awareness among ordinary Australians about the discrimination inherent in current Australian marriage law.
“Particularly pleasing is that 40% of Australians, including almost 60% of young Australians, strongly disagree that marriage should be restricted to heterosexual couples.”
However, Mr Croome said the bill’s defeat showed the potential for what could be done with a different approach to reformation.
He added: “The fact the New South Wales vote was so close and that it had unprecedented support from Coalition members is due to cross-party cooperation and a Coalition conscience vote.
“New South Wales has shown what the path forward at a national level should be.”
In October, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) became Australia’s first state to introduce marriage rights for same-sex couples.
Earlier this month, it was announced there would be a legal challenge against ACT’S same-sex marriage law which would be heard in the country’s High Court less than a week before the first weddings are due to take place.
