Until the ban was lifted on Dec 4, the Australian Government is known to have a policy of not issuing the certificates to an Australian citizen who is seeking to marry a same-sex partner in a country that allows same-sex marriage.
Attorney-General Robert McClelland announced the policy change at the ruling Labor party’s National Conference.
The certificates, known as Certificates of Non-Impediment to Marriage or CNIs, serve to confirm to a foreign government that the Australian who wants to marry under its laws is not already married in Australia. Up to now, the certificates are issued routinely to Australians intending to enter opposite-sex marriages overseas.
An overseas same-sex wedding will not be recognised as forming a marriage when the couple returns to Australia, but it will be used as evidence of a relationship for regional laws.
According to Australian Marriage Equality (AME), the policy has been in place since 2004.
AME spokesman Rodney Croome said the change will make a real difference those wanting to marry overseas.
"Many gay and lesbians Australians travel overseas to marry because they can't marry here, but when they discover the Australian government won't give them the required paperwork, weddings plans have to be cancelled," Croome said.
The new policy comes a day after the Labor Party National Conference adopted a new party policy supporting marriage equality – a reversal of its longstanding position on the issue – but allowing Labor MPs a conscience vote on the issue next year.
In November, openly lesbian Finance Minister Penny Wong was quoted as saying in the local media that she rejects the conscience vote as the means of resolving the party's internal debate. "Equality should not be a matter of conscience; it should be reflected in Labor policy," Wong said in a plea for her party to endorse same-sex marriage.
Update (Dec 13, 2011): On December 1, Queensland lawmakers passed the Civil Partnerships Bill which will allow same-sex and opposite-sex couples in Queensland to enter into legally recognised civil unions. The legislation now aligns Queensland with reforms already made in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
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Reader's Comments
the 1st steps on a long path to equal rights
There's nothing shameful in people wishing to join the mainstream of the society to which they belong. It's nice sometimes to have our own bars, websites, districts and all the rest, and there's a subgroup of gays that would quite happily spend all their time there, but I don't think that represents a complete lifestyle for all same-sex attracted individuals. Most of us value study, work, family connections, etc, and sincerely wish to integrate with the broader community.
It's true that there are some unique opportunities available to gay men to explore different and perhaps more complex relationships,
but by walking away from a social institution that is so highly valued by other human beings the world over, we risk being defined by such qualities as perpetual promiscuity, polygamy and noncommitment, and may even risk being overlooked as full members of the human race.
If you don't want to commit to a marriage, then that's OK. It's fine for straight people to remain single too. Marriage is only a "straight" institution as long as we refuse to take part in it.
As an Australian I find it interesting that at the last election, the vast majority of votes went to parties with anti-gay marriage policies in place, whose leaders remain firmly against gay marriage, and yet these leaders might just stand aside and allow it to happen (which is the wise thing to do electorally, as upwards of 80% of Australian voters support gay marriage). At least, I hope that's how it pans out...
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u r totally wrong. yes it's just a piece of pathetic paper,but it's a security for everyone,especially for gay and lesbian--the special groups which are lacking belongingness and sense of safe. and the relationship is possibly more firm and reliable just becoz of the paper.
this is a dream come true
this is a speech from Zach Wahls, a 19-year-old University of Iowa student spoke about the strength of his family during a public forum on House Joint. Australia need to learn something from him....
How can he as a gay man be so poorly informed and lacking in understanding the realities of the many many benefits of marriage.
Let's start with the fact that both my partner and I have had to leave our countries (family, friends professional positions) because neither of our countries will acknowledge our nearly 2 decade long relationship where we have merged all of our finances etc.
So get some education instead of just being a martial arts freak.
The list pretty long but let's just mention a few more: survivor retirement benefits, non-taxed inheritance rights. Do a quick google search and find out what is real before you post such ignorant and demeaning comments to your LGBT brothers and sisters who need these basic rights.
Religious marriage is a religious rite.
Civil marriage is a civil right.
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