Push to recognise gay marriages in NSW

#974 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 5 Oct 2014.

Defenders of true marriage had a small win this week after a Senate inquiry into a bill to recognise foreign same sex marriages, introduced by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, recommended that the bill not be passed.

But the fight for marriage law reform returns now to NSW, with Sydney independent MP Alex Greenwich vowing to introduce a bill to the NSW Parliament along the same lines as the bill introduced to federal parliament by Senator Hanson-Young, despite a High Court ruling in 2013 that States cannot legally redefine marriage.

Marriage is a federal issue and Australia decided in 1961 to have uniform marriage law. It is time same-sex marriage advocates submit to the decisions of parliament rather than pursuing legislation by fatigue.

The people of NSW are growing tired of this seemingly endless debate, and there are many more important issues to focus the minds and hearts of legislators, church leaders and voters. It is time to move on.

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