Friday 19 April 2013

Recognise NZ gay marriages here - Greens

The fallout in Australia continues, after New Zealand lead the way in the Asia Pacific yesterday by legalising same sex marriage. I wonder how long it's going to be before the NSW state gov realises how much money NSW is losing by gays crossing the Tasman to be married? Especially from Sydney it's only a short flight. In fact Perth is much further away than NZ.

There's more than that though, as the dominoes seem to be lined up and falling. Now Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (Greens are about the only sane ones in Canberra) is to push for those foreign marriages in NZ to be recognised here in Australia.
GAY and lesbian Australians who fly to New Zealand to get married could have their unions recognised at home if a bill to be put forward by the Greens is passed in parliament. 

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said this morning she would introduce a bill in the Senate as soon as possible when parliament returned on May 14 that would allow international same-sex marriages to be recognised under Australian law. 

"Australian same-sex couples are now lining up to get married in New Zealand and the sad thing is they are not going to be recognised here,” Senator Hanson-Young told ABC News 24. 

"They shouldn’t have to leave their marriage at the customs gate. 

"Let’s recognise overseas marriage here in Australia.” more  
This looks like a rather sticky situation for the Canberra fossils politicians. If someone is legally married in NZ, then how can you not recognise that legal marriage here? Particularly with our countries so tied economically and politically? 

The fact is the polls for marriage equality are the same here as in NZ; about 60-70% support. New Zealand got it IMO because their political system is more representative of voters views. Here in Australia it feels like the pollies are being dragged kicking and screaming to it.

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