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 Queer activists have welcomed the Victorian government’s move to support same-sex marriage.
In a resolution passed almost unanimously during the Victorian ALP State Conference in Melbourne over the weekend, the motion stated: "Victorian Labor believes that people are entitled to respect, equality, dignity and the opportunity to participate in society free from hatred or harassment and receive the protection of the law regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We congratulate the Rudd Labor Government on removing discrimination against same-sex couples from a raft of Commonwealth laws in 2008. "Conference calls upon the Rudd Labor Government to continue its commitment to these principles by amending the Marriage Act to allow for equal access to marriage, regardless of the gender of either partner.” Alex Greenwich from Australia Marriage Equality told MCV he was “pleasantly surprised” by the move. “This support, after a similar resolution in Tasmania was passed, is encouraging. There are a lot within the ALP who are supporters of same-sex marriage. “It sends a clear message to Federal Labor that in Victoria, like Tasmania, the ALP is supportive of same-sex marriage. “What we are seeing is a revolt in Labor ranks to affirm traditional Labor values like equality and oppose the disproportionate influence of the religious right.” Steve Staikos, co-convenor of Rainbow Labor Network Victoria, said there was support for GLBTI issues from all sections of the party. However, Staikos warned that the resolution was not binding. “This is a state conference, not a national policy conference. It was the Victorian ALP making a statement and a number of federal members of parliament will be made aware of the resolution and I’m certain they will consider this when discussions are had regarding these issues.” Spokesperson for Australian Coalition for Equality Corey Irlam congratulated the Victorian ALP members for their “overwhelming support” of same-sex human rights. “Today’s motion foreshadows that Thursday’s [Senate] report into same-sex marriage must not ignore the 60 per cent majority of Australians who support same-sex marriage.” Minister for Education Bronwyn Pike told MCV she had “supported same-sex marriage for many, many years”. “I am pleased that the recent Labor State Conference passed a resolution which acknowledged the need for ongoing work to ensure that gay and lesbian people are treated equally and with respect,” she said. The resolution is unlikely to be sustained by Premier Brumby, who has previously said he does not support same-sex marriage. Attorney-General Rob Hulls told MCV laws covering marriage were a federal matter over which states had no legislative control. “The Brumby Labor Government introduced the Relationships Register in December last year to give defacto and same-sex partners the ability to register their loving relationship,” Hulls said. The Victorian ALP resolution also called for the Rudd Government not to intervene in the ACT law that allows for same-sex couples to recognise their relationship with a legally binding ceremony. “Conference calls on the Commonwealth Government not to override the ACT Legislative Assembly’s commendable steps towards full relationship equality through the Civil Partnerships Amendment Act 2009,” it states.
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