Australia's Labor Party Challenges Its Own PM To Approve Same-Sex Marriage

The Labor Party of Australia is challenging its own Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to pass marriage equality legislation. Rudd has threatened to veto a recently approved law making same-sex marriage legal in the Australian Capitol Territory.

The Australian Labor Party in the state of Victoria passed a resolution in support of marriage equality last weekend. It is supported by ministers and calls for the law to be changed to allow "equal access to marriage, regardless of the gender of either partner". According to the Sydney Morning Herald, it reads: "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." Rudd has been a steadfast opponent of gay marriage rights and said this week that his government may veto for a third time laws recognising civil partnership ceremonies in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The ACT legalised civil partnerships ceremonies for gay couples earlier this month, making it the first territory in the country to do so.