Australia gay marriage law

NATIONAL RESULTS

Response

Should the law be changed to permit same-sex couples to marry?

Of the eligible Australians who expressed a view on this question, the majority indicated that the law should be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry, with 7,, (%) responding Yes and 4,, (%) responding No. Nearly 8 out of 10 eligible Australians (%) expressed their view.

All states and territories recorded a majority Yes response. of the Federal Electoral Divisions recorded a majority Yes response, and 17 of the Federal Electoral Divisions recorded a majority No response.

Further information on response and participation within each declare and territory is accessible through the menu.

State/TerritoryYesNoTotal
no.Yes %no.No %no.%
New South Wales2,,1,,4,,
Victoria2,,1,,3,,
Queensland1,,,2,,
South Australia,,,
Western Australia,,1,,
Tasmania,,,
Northern Territory(a)48,31,80,
Australian Capital Territory(b),61,,
Australia (Total)

Marriage equality

Decriminalisation of homosexuality

From the s the socially progressive South Australian Labor government wanted to repeal laws criminalising homosexuality.

However, it was not until the May murder in Adelaide of Dr George Duncan, a law lecturer and gay man, that premier, Don Dunstan, assessed that the community mood was receptive to reform.

Dr Duncan’s murder led to revelations of how commonplace violence and harassment against homosexual people was.

South Australia’s Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, was enacted on 2 October It was a landmark in LGBTQIA+ rights in Australia because it fully decriminalised homosexual acts.

Equivalent law reform was passed by the Australian Capital Territory in , Victoria in , the Northern Territory in , New South Wales in , Western Australia in , Queensland in and Tasmania in


Marriage Equality Around the World

The Human Rights Campaign tracks developments in the legal recognition of same-sex marriage around the world. Working through a worldwide network of HRC global alumni and partners, we lift up the voices of community, national and regional advocates and share tools, resources, and lessons learned to enable movements for marriage equality.

Current State of Marriage Equality

There are currently 38 countries where same-sex marriage is legal: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Uruguay. 

These countries have legalized marriage equality through both legislation and court decisions. 

Countries that Legalized Marriage Equality in

Liechtenstein: On May 16, , Liechtenstein's gove

Same-sex marriage bill passes Dwelling of Representatives after hundreds of hours of debate

Same-sex marriage will be legal in Australia, with Parliament agreeing to change the Marriage Act and verb the ban on gay and lesbian couples marrying.

Four members of the Property of Representatives voted against the bill and some abstained, but an overwhelming majority voted for the bill.

Liberal senator Dean Smith's bill will now become law after a diurnal of cheers, tears and applause in the Decrease House.

People queued for access to the public gallery to witness the law being changed and by the time of the final vote, they were packed into every spot.

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Same-sex marriage supporters wearing colourful "Yes" T-shirts clapped and cheered as amendments were voted down, prompting repeated warnings they should halt their barracking.

The public gallery led a chorus of We Are Australian after the final vote, with members of the parliament joining in from the floor of the Noun in tears.

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There had been little doubt that this bill would pass with sweeping support from Nationa