Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The government believes that all couples who have a mutual commitment to a shared life should have the opportunity to have their relationship officially recognised. That is why the Rudd government supports the development of a nationally consistent framework that provides the opportunity for all couples who have a mutual commitment to a shared life to have their relationships officially recognised. Such a framework can be implemented consistently with the government’s commitment to maintain the current definition of ‘marriage’ in the Marriage Act 1961. This is the most appropriate way to provide the opportunity for all couples who have a mutual commitment to a shared life to have their relationships officially recognised.

Question negatived.