AUSTRALIA: Major Corporations Publish Full Page Ad In Support Of Gay Marriage

Via ABC News Australia:

Some of Australia's biggest businesses have thrown their weight behind the push for gay marriage, with a full-page newspaper advertisement today. Corporations including Google, Qantas, Optus and the ANZ and Commonwealth banks have put their names to a list of Australian businesses backing marriage equality. Others supporters include law firms Slater and Gordon and Gilbert and Tobin, and the Football Federation of Australia. Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome said the corporations approached the organisation send the message that Australia's business community was behind marriage equality. "It was about corporate saying it's not just about us individually supporting this, we want to do it collectively and send the strongest possible message," Mr Croome said.

The same-sex marriage debate has gained momentum this week on the back of Ireland's hugely successful referendum at the weekend. This morning, Coalition MP Warren Entsch said a number of Labor and Greens MPs had said they were willing to co-sponsor a same-sex marriage bill. "I have spoken to members across parties and independents, all have agreed that they're happy to put their names and signatures to this," Mr Entsch said. "It's just a matter of finalising it." Labor is preparing to introduce its own bill on Monday and Mr Entsch said he was working on a cross-party solution and expected to have a draft bill ready by August. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has emphasised any moves to legalise gay marriage must be owned by the Parliament, not a single party.

See more at Australian Marriage Equality.