Media Release
Tuesday June 27th 2017
 
EQUALITY GROUPS JOINTLY CALL FOR CONSULTATION ON DRAFT LIBERAL MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL
 
Three key advocacy groups have welcomed reports that Government backbenchers, Dean Smith and Trent Zimmermann, are drafting marriage equality legislation but have called for immediate consultation on the legislation, including any proposals for religious exemptions.
 
Reports suggest the bill contains exemptions for civil celebrants which is strongly opposed by the LGBTI community and by many civil celebrants.
 
Just.equal spokesperson, Rodney Croome said,
 
"It's great to see Government members moving marriage equality forward, but marriage equality and the caveats attached to it affect all LGBTI people and our families, so it's vital there is consultation on this bill as soon as possible."
 
"Earlier this year, the largest LGBTI community survey of its kind ever conducted in Australia found overwhelming opposition to exemptions for civil celebrants and other service providers, even if it means we have to wait for marriage equality."
 
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays national spokesperson, Shelley Argent, agreed, saying,
 
"I congratulate Dean Smith and Trent Zimmermann for drafting legislation and pushing for a free vote, and I'm pleased to see the lobbying and campaigning of so many parents paying off."
 
"But I also want there to be consultation asap. We don't want to see any back room deals done on an issue that impacts our children so deeply."
 
Felicity Marlowe of Rainbow Families Victoria said,
 
"The equality in 'marriage equality' is very important to our rainbow families and we are against anything which compromises that equality."
 
"Parliament's winter break provides an excellent opportunity for extensive community consultation on the draft bill."
 
"We are very happy to meet and provide feedback on the proposed bill with Senator Smith and Mr Zimmermann, and in fact any parliamentarian keen to work with us to achieve marriage equality sooner rather than later."
 
For a news report on the drafting of a Liberal bill: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/liberal-mps-secretly-drafting-private-members-bill-to-legalise-samesex-marriage-20170626-gwyn63.html
 
For more on the LGBTI community survey on refusal of service proposals: https://ymlp.com/zlu9XL
 
For a copy of this media release on the web: click here
 
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668, Shelley Argent on 0409 363 335, or Felicity Marlowe on 0411 593 607.