Tasmania's Marriage Bill Fails

Tasmania's upper legislative chamber has rejected its marriage equality bill.   Last month a similar bill passed in the state Assembly.

Gay marriage advocates have vowed to keep campaigning as numbers mount against them in the first attempt at pioneering state-based same sex marriage. The numbers for reform in Tasmania were lost tonight when the eighth voice against the bill was declared in the 15 member state upper house, the Legislative Council. Australian Marriage Equality spokesman Rodney Croome said lower houser approval and some backing in the council were great achievements, given that Tasmania was last to decriminalise homosexuality. "If opponents of this bill think they have put the debate to bed they are wrong," Mr Croome said.

Last month Tasmania's legislature voted to recognize same-sex marriages from other countries.