John Madigan (Victoria, Democratic Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 25 March 2014:

The form of a referendum on an amendment to the Constitution confirming that all powers pertaining to making laws for marriage rest with the Commonwealth and that those powers may only be used to confirm marriage to be the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life, with particular reference to:

(a) what question should be put to the electors;

(b) any effect of the alteration on the Parliament's powers under section 51(xxi) of the Constitution;

(c) the level of state and territory support;

(d) the potential ramifications for states and territories if such an amendment was made; and

(e) any other matters that the committee considers may be relevant to a decision on whether to conduct a referendum, and the timing of any referendum.

Question negatived.