Australian Capital Territory first jurisdiction to recognize same sex marriage

The Legislative Assembly of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) on Tuesday has passed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, which means the ACT will be the first Australian jurisdiction to recognize same-sex marriage by this bill. According to this bill, the laws will allow an authorized celebrant to marry gay couples within the ACT, regardless of where they live. Debate on the ACT Labor Government's Marriage Equality Same-Sex Bill was underway in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday morning. More than 100 members of the public are watching the debate in the public gallery and reception room. ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said in an address to the ACT Parliament on Tuesday morning that her government had moved to enact the law despite the threat of a High Court challenge by the Commonwealth. "There is no longer any excuse if there ever was to discriminate against same sex couples in our community," she said. "The marriage equality act puts this fundamental principle and human right into law." However, the ACT government has made amendments to the bill, initially tabled as the Marriage Equality Bill, during a debate on Tuesday morning. The changes to wording seek to clarify the scope of the bill and give it more chance of surviving a High Court challenge by the federal government. According to the report of the Australian Broadcasting Cooperation (ABC), it is expected same-sex couples will be able to take advantage of the new laws before Christmas, after they give four weeks notice of their intent to marry. Australian federal Attorney-General George Brandis said on Tuesday his government has legal advice that the ACT's legislation is invalid because it is inconsistent with the provisions of the Commonwealth Marriage Act. "Irrespective of anyone's views on the desirability or otherwise of same-sex marriage, it is clearly in Australia's interests that there be nationally consistent marriage laws," a spokesman for Brandis said in a statement on Tuesday. According to local media, Brandis has asked the ACT government not to put the new laws into effect until the high court can determine their validity, but Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has vowed to press ahead. "I don't believe this bill in any way challenges, diminishes or undermines the religion or faith of any individual," she said during assembly debate on the bill. "If we are to be judged by a higher being on this law, then let it be so."