Media Release

Wednesday November 15th 2017

AUSTRALIA SAID YES TO EQUALITY SO PARLIAMENT SHOULD SAY NOT TO DISCRIMINATION
CALL ON PARLIAMENT TO VOTE DOWN BRANDIS MARRIAGE EXEMPTIONS 

 

Equality advocates have called on Parliament to vote down discriminatory marriage amendments flagged today by Attorney-General, George Brandis, in the wake of the announcement that Australia has voted yes for marriage equality.

Senator Brandis has proposed amendments to allow civil celebrants to discriminate and potentially to allow advocates of traditional marriage to be exempt from anti-discrimination and hate speech laws.

Just.equal spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said

"Civil celebrants are delegated by the government to perform an official duty and should not be allowed to discriminate in the conduct of that duty."

"Anti-discrimination and hate speech laws are important protections for the most vulnerable people in the community and no-one should be in the privileged position of having a special exemption from them."

"Today's Yes vote was a vote for full equality for all couples, and against any further discrimination."

 

"Australia has decisively rejected the No campaign's case that marriage equality poses a threat to freedom and faith, so there is no mandate to write into law unnecessary and discriminatory 'protections' from this spurious 'threat'."

"The Prime Minister has promised there would be no new forms of discrimination and we want the Parliament to hold him to that promise."

"We call on Parliament to vote down these proposed amendments."

Mr Turnbull has said, "I don't believe Australians would welcome, and certainly the government ... would not countenance making legal, discrimination that is illegal, that is unlawful today".

For a news report on the proposed amendments, click here.
For a copy of this statement on the web, click here.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.