Rod Swift of the Australian Coalition for Equality told MCV: “The passing of this long overdue legislation marks years of campaigning to end discrimination against same sex couples.
“It's about time,” Swift said.

South Australian Greens Senator Hanson-Young said it was an historic step forward in recognising the rights of same-sex couples.

Hanson-Young said more changes were still necessary including changes to the Marriage Act and creating a specific act, like the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, to protect people from discrimination on the basis of sexuality.

The House of Representatives will now consider the amendments made by the Senate before the bill is returned to the Senate for its third reading.

“It’s a big step and really exciting,” Halley Conway, co-convenor of the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby told MCV.

“However, it’s certainly not the end of what we are trying to do.

“The changes will only apply to people who are living in marriage like relationships it will not to apply to single people and it doesn’t address human rights as a broad concept.”

Conway said the lobby is remaining “cautiously optimistic” that the bill will pass the third reading.

“With the way the senate is made up we are aware that there is always the possibility it could go either way.”

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