Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes the recent motion passed by the Tasmanian Parliament regarding same-sex marriage that stated that the House:

  (i)   supports marriage equality, and

  (ii)   calls on the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia to amend the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961 to provide for marriage equality; and

(b)   accepts the call for marriage equality.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for two minutes.

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

The Australian Labor Party's position on this issue of same-sex marriage is consistent with the party's national platform. The Prime Minister has made it clear that this will be the subject of a debate at the ALP national conference in December when the party platform will be reviewed and debated.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for two minutes.

Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That statement from the Manager of Government Business in the Senate should not deter Labor senators, like Senator Carol Brown, from supporting this motion, which went through the state parliament. The motion calls on the parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia to amend the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961 to provide for marriage equality. This motion should be supported by those Labor members who have already made it clear that they support this very motion. Question put:

That the motion (Senator Hanson-Young's) be agreed to.

The Senate divided. [16:11]

(The Deputy President—Senator Parry)

Question negatived.