High Court strikes down gay marriage

For broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 15 Dec 2013.

FamilyVoice Australia President Dr David Phillips has praised the High Court’s “common sense” unanimous decision to overturn the ACT’s same sex marriage laws.

“The court said that the whole of the ACT Act has no effect because federal legislation – which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman – is a comprehensive and exhaustive statement on the law of marriage … Debates in state parliaments on this issue have been a waste of time.”

Dr Phillips said that while the Court had ruled that federal parliament has the power to change the definition of marriage, such a change would not be in the best interests of Australian society.

He said he hoped federal MPs would “continue to recognise that marriage between a man and a woman has been recognised by governments and given status for one reason – that it provides the safest environment to raise the next generation, our nation’s future.”

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.