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.

Tasmania Marriage Bill Advances

The last Australian state to decriminalize homosexuality may be the first to legalize same-sex marriage.

Tasmania's House of Assembly has passed a bill to allow gay couples to marry. After more than four hours of debate the bill was passed 13 votes to 11. The long-serving Speaker Michael Polley was the only Labor MP to vote against the legislation and was joined by all 10 Liberal MPs. Premier Lara Giddings congratulated the Labor and Greens MPs who spoke in support of the move. "And I too look forward to being able to celebrate engagement parties, weddings, attending receptions," she said. "I think there's a couple of people who are actually thinking of becoming celebrants. We're good talkers, us politicians." Greens leader Nick McKim said it was a historic moment. "The Parliament has just excelled itself," he said

The bill now goes to the Upper House where it will be considered near the end of September.

LIVE VIDEO: Australian State Of Tasmania Considers Same-Sex Marriage

The lower chamber of Tasmania's parliament is considering same-sex marriage. The bill has strong support from the Greens and may pass there, but it faces stronger opposition in the Upper House. The debate is taking place at this writing and a vote may come at any time. Watch live here.

Tasmania Considers Same-Sex Marriage

In a move that will pressure Australia's national government, the head of the state of Tasmania announced today that same-sex marriage may be legalized there later this year.

The move appeared to catch the federal government and other states by surprise, with Victoria refusing to say if it would recognise same-sex marriages from Tasmania - and restating its view that marriage laws were a federal matter. But constitutional law expert Professor George Williams last night republished advice he wrote, arguing that marriage falls under the ''concurrent'' or shared powers of Section 51 of the constitution - leaving the way open for states to legislate on gay marriage.

''The only limitation is that, where federal and state laws conflict, the Commonwealth law takes precedence. My view is that a state same-sex marriage law would not be inconsistent with the federal Marriage Act after it was narrowed in 2004 to make sure it dealt only with heterosexual marriage. However, this could only be determined by the High Court,'' he wrote.

Ms Giddings said she had obtained legal advice from the solicitor-general that there was no obstacle to stop legislation. "Labor has a proud history of tackling discrimination and introducing important social reform,'' she said. "I expect the rest of the country will be watching closely as we work through this process."

Tasmania's proposed bill would also allow Australians from other states to marry there.

AUSTRALIA: State Of Tasmania Recognizes Gay Marriages From Other Countries

The legislature of the Australian island state of Tasmania has voted to recognize same-sex marriages and civil unions from other jurisdictions.

Only three of the 25 Lower House MPs voted against the amendment to the Relationships Act - Liberal members Rene Hidding, Michael Ferguson and Jacqui Petrusma. Attorney-General Lara Giddings says the changes will remove discrimination for same-sex couples in registered relationships. "This is really a small step, but a significant and important step for those people who have registered or been through a civil union process elsewhere around the world and want us to recognise that relationship as indeed being in existence," she said.

(Tipped by JMG reader Jonny)