Marriage by any other name: AHRC and Possible option of Repealing Marriage Act

The President of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Catherine Branson QC, has noted the possible option of repealing the Marriage Act and replacing it with some other form of relationship recognition legislation.

The President of the AHRC was responding to questions from Liberal Senator Guy Barnett in the Senate. The questions related to Australia’s recent appearance at the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and the recommendation from the international community that Australian legislation be amended to remove discrimination against same sex couples (including recognition of same sex marriages from overseas).

The response prompted calls on the Federal Attorney-General to rule out the option of repealing the Marriage Act and for a reaffirmation of support for “ … the Marriage Act in its present form and the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman was endorsed by both houses of parliament in 2004 with bipartisan support, and confirmed again in 2010.” 

The recommendations from the UN Universal Periodic Review are on the UN website.

The President of the AHRC s confirmed that the Commission supported same sex marriage, ‘in broad terms,’ but stressed the primary objective as being the removal of discrimination.

Source: Press Release Senator Guy Barnett 22 February 2011.

 

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