Fed: Howard attacked over plan to change Marriage Act

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2004
Fed: Howard attacked over plan to change Marriage Act

By Belinda Tasker

CANBERRA, April 26 AAP - Gay rights activists and the Australian Democrats today condemned
Prime Minister John Howard for reportedly considering stopping courts from recognising
same-sex marriages.

Mr Howard wants to overhaul the Marriage Act to stop courts recognising foreign gay
unions in an attempt to defend traditional families, according to The Australian newspaper.

The changes will prevent gay couples from gaining recognition of their unions by marrying
in countries such as Canada or Denmark.

But the Equal Rights Network and the Democrats have attacked the planned changes as
"tawdry electioneering" and as a way of using gay people as political footballs during
an election year.

Democrats attorney-general and justice spokesman Brian Greig said the Democrats would
oppose any attempt by the federal government to pass laws designed to deny same-sex couples
the right to be married.

Senator Greig also accused Mr Howard of copying US President George W Bush, who recently
moved to ban same-sex marriages in the United States.

"Denying same-sex couples the right to any formal legal legal recognition of their
unions just imposes social, legal and financial discrimination on them and any children
they may be raising," he said.

"It is complete and utter nonsense to claim that same-sex marriages are a threat to
heterosexual people and to traditional marriage.

"Marriages are based on love and trust and commitment, and often as a framework within
which to raise children. Heterosexual people do not have a monopoly on those qualities."

The proposed amendments to the Marriage Act reportedly being considered by Mr Howard
could result in marriage being defined in legislation as between a man and a woman.

Equal Rights Network spokesman Rodney Croome called on all MPs to oppose any moves
by the government to introduce such reforms.

Three Australian same-sex couples have said they plan court cases to have their foreign
marriages recognised under the Commonwealth Marriage Act, he said.

"The government's pre-emptive strike against gay marriage amounts to an attack on citizens'
rights," Mr Croome said.

"The overwhelming majority of lesbian and gay Australians believe the option of marriage
should be available to those same sex couples who want their unions formally recognised.

"Our elected representatives run the risk of an electoral backlash if they fail to
respect this strong community sentiment."

Mr Howard's office today would not comment on the report.

AAP bt/sjb/jlw

KEYWORD: GAY NIGHTLEAD

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