Australia&#39;s first gay weddings took place Saturday, ushering in a new era after the country&#39;s marriage equality law came into effect this month.&nbsp;

The historic reforms were given royal assent on December 8, the final step in a process that began with a national postal vote in September.&nbsp;There was supposed to be a 30-day waiting period after couples registered to marry, with the first weddings expected on January 9.&nbsp;But some sought an exemption due to their circumstances, and the first ceremonies went ahead on Saturday, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne.

&quot;Australia&#39;s first legal same-sex marriage has just taken place. Congratulations Amy and Lauren&quot;, Equal Marriage Rights Australia announced on its Facebook page.&nbsp;Fairfax Media said Lauren Price, 31, and Amy Laker, 29, solemnised their vows in Sydney, while Melbourne couple Amy and Elise McDonald -- who coincidentally have the same surname -- tied the knot two hours later.

A photo showed Price and Laker dressed in traditional white gowns and holding hands as they said &quot;I do&quot; on a glorious Sydney day.&nbsp;Among hundreds of comments on the Facebook page, Paul Antoine said: &quot;Now... has the country collapsed? NOOO!! Two women have just shown their love. Pretty simple, but nonetheless special in my view!&quot;

Jason Chapman added: &quot;Relentless dedication from so many over the last fifty years has led us to enjoy this beautiful moment of equality. Congratulations ladies&quot;.&nbsp;All but four members of Australia&#39;s 150-seat lower House of Representatives voted in support of marriage equality, with the legislation passing without any religious freedom amendments that some were pushing for.

The bill was introduced in parliament by the conservative government after Australians in November endorsed the reforms in a contentious voluntary postal vote.&nbsp;Nearly 80 percent of eligible voters took part in the poll, and almost 62 percent of those who voted chose &quot;yes&quot; on their ballots.

Fairfax said Price and Laker had originally intended to hold a commitment ceremony at the British consulate because Price was from Wales.&nbsp;But when the new law was passed, they sought an exemption from the normal waiting period because Price&#39;s family had already travelled to Sydney for the celebrations.

Melbourne&#39;s Amy and Elise McDonald, aged 36 and 28, reportedly only got permission to marry on Saturday morning, gaining an exemption for similar reasons, according to the Herald Sun newspaper.&nbsp;They were allowed to have a legal marriage on financial grounds and because their families had travelled from overseas.

Same-sex marriage is now recognised in more than 20 countries, of which 16 are in Europe.&nbsp;

The first same-sex weddings ushered in a new era after the country's marriage equality law came into effect this month

Australia's first gay weddings took place Saturday, ushering in a new era after the country's marriage equality law came into effect this month. The historic reforms were given royal assent on December 8, the final step in a process that began with a national postal vote in September. There was supposed to be a 30-day waiting period after couples registered to marry, with the first weddings expected on January 9. But some sought an exemption due to their circumstances, and the first ceremonies went ahead on Saturday, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne. "Australia's first legal same-sex marriage has just taken place. Congratulations Amy and Lauren", Equal Marriage Rights Australia announced on its Facebook page. Fairfax Media said Lauren Price, 31, and Amy Laker, 29, solemnised their vows in Sydney, while Melbourne couple Amy and Elise McDonald -- who coincidentally have the same surname -- tied the knot two hours later. A photo showed Price and Laker dressed in traditional white gowns and holding hands as they said "I do" on a glorious Sydney day. Among hundreds of comments on the Facebook page, Paul Antoine said: "Now... has the country collapsed? NOOO!! Two women have just shown their love. Pretty simple, but nonetheless special in my view!" Jason Chapman added: "Relentless dedication from so many over the last fifty years has led us to enjoy this beautiful moment of equality. Congratulations ladies". All but four members of Australia's 150-seat lower House of Representatives voted in support of marriage equality, with the legislation passing without any religious freedom amendments that some were pushing for. The bill was introduced in parliament by the conservative government after Australians in November endorsed the reforms in a contentious voluntary postal vote. Nearly 80 percent of eligible voters took part in the poll, and almost 62 percent of those who voted chose "yes" on their ballots. Fairfax said Price and Laker had originally intended to hold a commitment ceremony at the British consulate because Price was from Wales. But when the new law was passed, they sought an exemption from the normal waiting period because Price's family had already travelled to Sydney for the celebrations. Melbourne's Amy and Elise McDonald, aged 36 and 28, reportedly only got permission to marry on Saturday morning, gaining an exemption for similar reasons, according to the Herald Sun newspaper. They were allowed to have a legal marriage on financial grounds and because their families had travelled from overseas. Same-sex marriage is now recognised in more than 20 countries, of which 16 are in Europe.

First gay marriages take place in Australia

It took a long time, but on Thursday Australia became the 26th country to achieve marriage equality.

The LGBTI community is euphoric and relieved with this hard-fought victory. But there is also trauma from the drawn-out postal survey campaign, which saw attacks on rainbow families and communities. It left many feeling vulnerable and distressed. In some cases, it brought back painful memories of the bullying and abuse they were subjected to in their adolescence.

But once the celebrations from Australia achieving marriage equality have subsided, the fight for LGBTI people to live lives free from discrimination will continue.

Watch:&nbsp;Marriage equality has passed, so what&rsquo;s next?

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A long way to go

The focus recently has, understandably, been on achieving marriage equality. However, it&rsquo;s important to recognise that this accomplishment does not mean that LGBTI people enjoy all of the same human rights as heterosexual people.

Australian law has not yet caught up with the reality of modern families. Children in LGBTI families may have more than two parents: a lesbian couple may have a child with the assistance of a gay couple, for instance, and all four parents may be actively involved in raising the child.

In contrast to Canada, which allows birth certificates to record up to four parents, Australia allows only two parents to be recorded. This means that this pivotal identity document may not accurately reflect a child&rsquo;s family structure.

Another issue that can now receive greater attention is the ongoing use of conversion therapies to &ldquo;cure&rdquo; a person&rsquo;s same-sex attraction. These harmful practices appear to have gone underground but are actually more prevalent in Australia than ever before.

Conversion therapies have been condemned by the medical profession as harmful and ineffective, and by the UN as a breach of human rights. Nevertheless, they continue in Australia.

In 2016, the Victorian government established a commissioner to investigate and ban unregistered health practitioners who claim to be able to convert same-sex-attracted people. However, the Health Complaints Commissioner does not have the power to examine faith-based organisations engaging in such practices, which limits this initiative&rsquo;s effectiveness.

In the US, however, several states and cities have enacted legislation to ban conversion therapy &ndash; either for minors or, in the case of New York City, for adults as well.

Additionally, a case in the state of New Jersey against a Jewish counselling group culminated in a decision that the group had committed consumer fraud when it promised to change a person&rsquo;s same-sex attraction into opposite-sex attraction and was held liable to pay damages.

Given the attempts to embed discrimination against LGBTI people in the marriage equality legislation under the guise of religious freedom, and the government&rsquo;s review into whether Australian law adequately protects religious freedom, now may not be the best time to advocate for the removal of religious exemptions from federal, state and territory anti-discrimination legislation.

As it stands, religious bodies are allowed to discriminate against a person on the basis of their sexual orientation. The impact of such exemptions was recently illustrated when a teacher at a Baptist school in Western Australia was lawfully sacked for being gay.

Another issue that has received little attention is the ongoing practice of subjecting intersex infants to surgical or hormonal interventions to &ldquo;fix&rdquo; their sex to appear male or female. Advocates are calling for such medical interventions to be banned unless it is freely given and fully informed consent.

Advocacy on the world stage

Australia achieving marriage equality will also help improve our human rights reputation on the international stage &ndash; which is in desperate need of help.

At its UN Human Rights Council periodic review in 2016, several countries recommended that Australia amend its laws to allow same-sex couples to marry.

Australia should also lend its support to persecuted LGBTI people in other parts of the world. This includes in the Asia-Pacific region, where 19 countries criminalise homosexuality. As Martin Luther King said: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

We should celebrate and enjoy the fact that Australia finally has marriage equality. But it is by no means the end of the road when it comes to the law reform necessary to enable LGBTI people to enjoy lives of dignity and equality.

Birth certificates that accurately reflect a child&rsquo;s family, ban on conversion therapies, removal of religious exemptions from anti-discrimination legislation, and prohibitions on surgeries to &ldquo;normalise&rdquo; an intersex infant&rsquo;s genitalia are just some of the issues that need to be fixed before Australia&rsquo;s LGBTI community can fully enjoy their human rights.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-has-finally-achieved-marriage-equality-but-theres-a-lot-more-to-be-done-on-lgbti-rights-88488" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

Image Credit: AAP

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Australia legalising marriage equality does not necessarily mean LGBTI people enjoy all of the same human rights as heterosexual people

It took a long time, but on Thursday Australia became the 26th country to achieve marriage equality. The LGBTI community is euphoric and relieved with this hard-fought victory. But there is also trauma from the drawn-out postal survey campaign, which saw attacks on rainbow families and communities. It left many feeling vulnerable and distressed. In some cases, it brought back painful memories of the bullying and abuse they were subjected to in their adolescence. But once the celebrations from Australia achieving marriage equality have subsided, the fight for LGBTI people to live lives free from discrimination will continue. Watch: Marriage equality has passed, so what’s next? × A long way to go The focus recently has, understandably, been on achieving marriage equality. However, it’s important to recognise that this accomplishment does not mean that LGBTI people enjoy all of the same human rights as heterosexual people. Australian law has not yet caught up with the reality of modern families. Children in LGBTI families may have more than two parents: a lesbian couple may have a child with the assistance of a gay couple, for instance, and all four parents may be actively involved in raising the child. In contrast to Canada, which allows birth certificates to record up to four parents, Australia allows only two parents to be recorded. This means that this pivotal identity document may not accurately reflect a child’s family structure. Another issue that can now receive greater attention is the ongoing use of conversion therapies to “cure” a person’s same-sex attraction. These harmful practices appear to have gone underground but are actually more prevalent in Australia than ever before. Conversion therapies have been condemned by the medical profession as harmful and ineffective, and by the UN as a breach of human rights. Nevertheless, they continue in Australia. In 2016, the Victorian government established a commissioner to investigate and ban unregistered health practitioners who claim to be able to convert same-sex-attracted people. However, the Health Complaints Commissioner does not have the power to examine faith-based organisations engaging in such practices, which limits this initiative’s effectiveness. In the US, however, several states and cities have enacted legislation to ban conversion therapy – either for minors or, in the case of New York City, for adults as well. Additionally, a case in the state of New Jersey against a Jewish counselling group culminated in a decision that the group had committed consumer fraud when it promised to change a person’s same-sex attraction into opposite-sex attraction and was held liable to pay damages. Given the attempts to embed discrimination against LGBTI people in the marriage equality legislation under the guise of religious freedom, and the government’s review into whether Australian law adequately protects religious freedom, now may not be the best time to advocate for the removal of religious exemptions from federal, state and territory anti-discrimination legislation. As it stands, religious bodies are allowed to discriminate against a person on the basis of their sexual orientation. The impact of such exemptions was recently illustrated when a teacher at a Baptist school in Western Australia was lawfully sacked for being gay. Another issue that has received little attention is the ongoing practice of subjecting intersex infants to surgical or hormonal interventions to “fix” their sex to appear male or female. Advocates are calling for such medical interventions to be banned unless it is freely given and fully informed consent. Advocacy on the world stage Australia achieving marriage equality will also help improve our human rights reputation on the international stage – which is in desperate need of help. At its UN Human Rights Council periodic review in 2016, several countries recommended that Australia amend its laws to allow same-sex couples to marry. Australia should also lend its support to persecuted LGBTI people in other parts of the world. This includes in the Asia-Pacific region, where 19 countries criminalise homosexuality. As Martin Luther King said: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We should celebrate and enjoy the fact that Australia finally has marriage equality. But it is by no means the end of the road when it comes to the law reform necessary to enable LGBTI people to enjoy lives of dignity and equality. Birth certificates that accurately reflect a child’s family, ban on conversion therapies, removal of religious exemptions from anti-discrimination legislation, and prohibitions on surgeries to “normalise” an intersex infant’s genitalia are just some of the issues that need to be fixed before Australia’s LGBTI community can fully enjoy their human rights. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Image Credit: AAP (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: Australia approves marriage equality, but lots need to be done on LGBTI rights

Same-sex couples will be allowed to marry in Austria from 2019, the country&#39;s supreme court ruled on Tuesday and said a law to the contrary violated the principle of non-discrimination.&nbsp;

The move brings Austria into line with many other European nations including Germany, France, Britain, and Spain.

It also comes at a time when stories of sexual harassment under the #MeToo hashtag have flooded social media, sparking a rethink of attitudes towards sexual discrimination.&nbsp;

&quot;Today is a truly historic day,&quot; said lawyer Helmut Graupner, who represented the two female plaintiffs in court.&nbsp;

&quot;Austria is the first European country to recognize marriage equality for same-gender couples as a fundamental human right. All the other European states with marriage equality introduced it (just) the political way,&quot; he said in a Facebook post.&nbsp;

Austria&#39;s constitutional court examined a 2009 law that allows registered partnerships for same-sex couples but prevents them from getting married. It acted at the request of two women who were rejected by two lower authorities.

The distinction between marriage and registered partnership can no longer be upheld without discriminating against same-sex couples, the court said in a statement.&nbsp;

&quot;The resulting discriminatory effect is seen in the fact that ... people living in same-sex partnerships have to disclose their sexual orientation even in situations, in which it is not and must not be relevant, and ... are highly likely to be discriminated against,&quot; the court said in its ruling.&nbsp;

The conservative People&#39;s Party (OVP), whose leader Sebastian Kurz is expected to be sworn in as chancellor next month, said it will accept the ruling.

The far-right Freedom Party (FPO), Kurz&#39;s chosen government coalition partner criticised the ruling.

&quot;Now there is equal treatment for something that&#39;s not equal,&quot; said Herbert Kickl, FPO General Secretary, in a statement. A marriage between women and men needs protection as only these partnerships can create children, he said.

The OVP and the FPO voted against same-sex marriage in parliament a few months ago.&nbsp;

The court decision comes days after French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a plan to curb violence against women and weeks after Scotland apologized to gay men for historical convictions.

The Homosexual Initiative Vienna (HOSI) welcomed the court&#39;s decision. &quot;We are very happy,&quot; said HOSI chairman Christian Hoegl. &quot;We want to use the opportunity for a renewed call for a fundamental reform of marriage.&quot;

Same-sex marriage is legal in 25 countries. Australia aims to pass a law to this effect early next month after 62 per cent of voters favoured marriage equality in a national survey.&nbsp;

In Germany, women and men are allowed to wed to a same-sex partner since October. The first country to legalise same-sex marriage was the Netherlands in 2001.

The move brings Austria into line with many other European nations including Germany, France, Britain, and Spain

Same-sex couples will be allowed to marry in Austria from 2019, the country's supreme court ruled on Tuesday and said a law to the contrary violated the principle of non-discrimination. The move brings Austria into line with many other European nations including Germany, France, Britain, and Spain. It also comes at a time when stories of sexual harassment under the #MeToo hashtag have flooded social media, sparking a rethink of attitudes towards sexual discrimination. "Today is a truly historic day," said lawyer Helmut Graupner, who represented the two female plaintiffs in court. "Austria is the first European country to recognize marriage equality for same-gender couples as a fundamental human right. All the other European states with marriage equality introduced it (just) the political way," he said in a Facebook post. Austria's constitutional court examined a 2009 law that allows registered partnerships for same-sex couples but prevents them from getting married. It acted at the request of two women who were rejected by two lower authorities. The distinction between marriage and registered partnership can no longer be upheld without discriminating against same-sex couples, the court said in a statement. "The resulting discriminatory effect is seen in the fact that ... people living in same-sex partnerships have to disclose their sexual orientation even in situations, in which it is not and must not be relevant, and ... are highly likely to be discriminated against," the court said in its ruling. The conservative People's Party (OVP), whose leader Sebastian Kurz is expected to be sworn in as chancellor next month, said it will accept the ruling. The far-right Freedom Party (FPO), Kurz's chosen government coalition partner criticised the ruling. "Now there is equal treatment for something that's not equal," said Herbert Kickl, FPO General Secretary, in a statement. A marriage between women and men needs protection as only these partnerships can create children, he said. The OVP and the FPO voted against same-sex marriage in parliament a few months ago. The court decision comes days after French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a plan to curb violence against women and weeks after Scotland apologized to gay men for historical convictions. The Homosexual Initiative Vienna (HOSI) welcomed the court's decision. "We are very happy," said HOSI chairman Christian Hoegl. "We want to use the opportunity for a renewed call for a fundamental reform of marriage." Same-sex marriage is legal in 25 countries. Australia aims to pass a law to this effect early next month after 62 per cent of voters favoured marriage equality in a national survey. In Germany, women and men are allowed to wed to a same-sex partner since October. The first country to legalise same-sex marriage was the Netherlands in 2001.

Austria's Supreme Court paves way for same-sex marriage

It was a glorious day for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/gay-marriage-only-matter-of-timein-north-ireland-irish-pm-18628">Australia on Wednesday as same-sex marriage</a> got legalized in a historic, non-binding poll.&nbsp;

With around 61.6% votes in favor of same-sex marriage of the total 12.7 million participants in the two-month long survey, the parliament has decided to implement the law before Christmas.&nbsp;

The Australian Bureau of Statistics stated that out of the total eligible voters, around 80% participates out of which 38.4% voted against gay marriages.&nbsp;

Same-sex couples could be able to marry by Christmas, but first&nbsp;the parliament must adopt legislation giving the non-binding vote result the force of law.

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Australians paving the way for legislation to make the country the 26th nation to formalise the unions by the end of the year (Reuters)
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Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull - who voted for same-sex marriage, stated that the &quot;overwhelming&quot; outcome and is now deciding the components to be included in the bill.&nbsp;

&quot;[Australians] have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality,&quot; he said after the result was announced.

&quot;They voted yes for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love. And now it is up to us here in the parliament of Australia to get on with it.&quot;

Australians broke out on the streets to celebrate the joyous day on Wednesday and marched through the streets waving flags, singing, and dancing.&nbsp;

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Thousands of people gathered in a central Sydney park, some wearing wedding dresses and sequined suits, broke into a loud cheer, hugged and cried. (Reuters)
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Some conservative MPs are urging the officials to include exemptions that would let business who do not support same-sex marriages to deny supply of goods and services for the wedding.&nbsp;

That bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate as early as Thursday.&nbsp;

Conservative opponents vowed before Wednesday&#39;s result was announced to pursue their campaign for exemptions from the eventual legalization of gay marriage, which they say will lead to attacks on their freedoms of speech and religion.

&quot;If a &#39;yes&#39; vote is returned, we will do what we can to guard against restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of religion, to defend parents&#39; rights, and to protect Australian kids from being exposed to radical LGBTIQ sex and gender education in the classrooms,&quot; Lyle Shelton, a spokesman for the Coalition for Marriage, said at the weekend.

&quot;We promise our supporters that no matter the result, we will continue to work to defend Australian families,&quot; he said. 
&nbsp;

With around 61.6% votes in favor of same-sex marriage of the total 12.7 million participants in the two-month long survey, the parliament has decided to implement the law before Christmas.?

It was a glorious day for Australia on Wednesday as same-sex marriage got legalized in a historic, non-binding poll. With around 61.6% votes in favor of same-sex marriage of the total 12.7 million participants in the two-month long survey, the parliament has decided to implement the law before Christmas. The Australian Bureau of Statistics stated that out of the total eligible voters, around 80% participates out of which 38.4% voted against gay marriages. Same-sex couples could be able to marry by Christmas, but first the parliament must adopt legislation giving the non-binding vote result the force of law. Australians paving the way for legislation to make the country the 26th nation to formalise the unions by the end of the year (Reuters) × Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull - who voted for same-sex marriage, stated that the "overwhelming" outcome and is now deciding the components to be included in the bill. "[Australians] have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality," he said after the result was announced. "They voted yes for fairness, yes for commitment, yes for love. And now it is up to us here in the parliament of Australia to get on with it." Australians broke out on the streets to celebrate the joyous day on Wednesday and marched through the streets waving flags, singing, and dancing. Thousands of people gathered in a central Sydney park, some wearing wedding dresses and sequined suits, broke into a loud cheer, hugged and cried. (Reuters) × Some conservative MPs are urging the officials to include exemptions that would let business who do not support same-sex marriages to deny supply of goods and services for the wedding. That bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate as early as Thursday. Conservative opponents vowed before Wednesday's result was announced to pursue their campaign for exemptions from the eventual legalization of gay marriage, which they say will lead to attacks on their freedoms of speech and religion. "If a 'yes' vote is returned, we will do what we can to guard against restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of religion, to defend parents' rights, and to protect Australian kids from being exposed to radical LGBTIQ sex and gender education in the classrooms," Lyle Shelton, a spokesman for the Coalition for Marriage, said at the weekend. "We promise our supporters that no matter the result, we will continue to work to defend Australian families," he said.

Australia votes 'yes' to same-sex marriage

It was supposed to relieve a headache for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/australian-pm-vows-to-legalise-same-sex-marriage-if-re-elected-787" target="_blank">Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, but a postal vote on whether to legalise same-sex marriage</a> has awakened interest in politics among young voters who could ultimately turf him out of office.

There had been strong calls from <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-rally-in-australia-for-same-sex-marriage-1157" target="_blank">the public for Australia to become the 25th nation to permit gay marriage</a>, a move that Turnbull supports, but more conservative members of his Liberal Party oppose.

Holding a wafer-thin parliamentary majority of just one seat, Turnbull opted to call a non-binding ballot as it was politically the least risky way of putting a highly emotive issue on the agenda.

The fierce national debate that ensued persuaded many young Australians to take a far greater interest in politics than they had before.

And while that might help Turnbull make the progressive, liberal amendment to the marriage law that he personally supports, it could cost him in the long term as there is a strong likelihood that the new generation will lean toward the centre-left Labor Party rather than his Liberals.

&quot;The issue of same-sex marriage has given the opposition a massive advantage in encouraging more young people, who are far more likely to vote for Labor, onto the electoral roll,&quot; said Simon Banks, one-time chief of staff to former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Young Australians previously have been tardy about registering to vote, knowing that once they do the law requires them to cast their ballot or face a fine of A$110 ($86). But the gay marriage issue persuaded more to get their name on the electoral roll.

&quot;I wasn&rsquo;t planning to register to vote, I wanted to wait another few years but I wanted to have my say, I wanted to vote &#39;Yes&#39;,&quot; said Rebecca Rodgers, 18, a student from Darwin in Australia&rsquo;s remote north who supports same-sex marriage.

The number of Australians aged under 25-year registered to vote now stands at a record high of nearly 1.65 million, making up just over 10 percent of the electorate.

Looking at Australia&#39;s finely balanced electoral map, there are a number of key marginal seats that could be decided by these young voters the next time the country goes to the polls.

Coming from Solomon, Northern Territories, a constituency where the Liberal Party&#39;s small majority is endangered, Rodgers has already made up her mind.

&quot;I will never vote for Turnbull,&quot; said Rodgers, an indigenous Australian dissatisfied with the ruling party&#39;s efforts to tackle the social ills afflicting her community.

Labor supporters are hoping that the new generation of voters will deliver a &quot;youthquake&quot; similar to the one that nearly carried Britain&#39;s Labour Party to an unlikely election victory earlier this year.

GOVERNMENT AT RISK

A conservative with social liberal credentials, Turnbull had enjoyed support spread across all age groups since coming to power in 2015.

But that appeal has faded, particularly among young people facing dimmer prospects because of the sluggish economy.

Nearly one-in-five young Australians are underemployed, according to the Brotherhood of St Laurence, an anti-poverty community and advocacy group.

A lack of job opportunities has stoked inequality and left many young Australians priced out of the property market that has seen home values soar by 69 percent in just nine years.

With opinion polls against him, Turnbull would probably favour hanging on until the last possible moment in 2019 to call an election, but Australia hasn&#39;t been giving its prime ministers the luxury of time.

Turnbull is the country&#39;s fifth prime minister in the last decade, and there is already a constitutional crisis brewing that could precipitate an early election.

Australia&#39;s High Court will rule on Oct. 13 on whether deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce can remain in parliament after being elected while holding dual citizenship, potentially ruling him ineligible under the country&#39;s constitution.

If Joyce is ruled ineligible and Turnbull is forced to call an election, there will be little scope for him to win over the youth vote without jeopardising his core support among the more conservative middle-aged and retired voters, political analysts say.

&quot;The Liberal Party has always been very strong among over 55&#39;s so the number one task is for the PM is to make sure that the core, base vote is as strong as he can make it,&quot; said Grahame Morris, former chief of staff to John Howard, Australia&#39;s second longest-serving prime minister.

&quot;If that base walks away, nothing else matters.&quot;

A postal vote on whether to legalise same-sex marriage has awakened interest in politics among young voters who could ultimately turf Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull out of office

It was supposed to relieve a headache for Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, but a postal vote on whether to legalise same-sex marriage has awakened interest in politics among young voters who could ultimately turf him out of office. There had been strong calls from the public for Australia to become the 25th nation to permit gay marriage, a move that Turnbull supports, but more conservative members of his Liberal Party oppose. Holding a wafer-thin parliamentary majority of just one seat, Turnbull opted to call a non-binding ballot as it was politically the least risky way of putting a highly emotive issue on the agenda. The fierce national debate that ensued persuaded many young Australians to take a far greater interest in politics than they had before. And while that might help Turnbull make the progressive, liberal amendment to the marriage law that he personally supports, it could cost him in the long term as there is a strong likelihood that the new generation will lean toward the centre-left Labor Party rather than his Liberals. "The issue of same-sex marriage has given the opposition a massive advantage in encouraging more young people, who are far more likely to vote for Labor, onto the electoral roll," said Simon Banks, one-time chief of staff to former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Young Australians previously have been tardy about registering to vote, knowing that once they do the law requires them to cast their ballot or face a fine of A$110 ($86). But the gay marriage issue persuaded more to get their name on the electoral roll. "I wasn’t planning to register to vote, I wanted to wait another few years but I wanted to have my say, I wanted to vote 'Yes'," said Rebecca Rodgers, 18, a student from Darwin in Australia’s remote north who supports same-sex marriage. The number of Australians aged under 25-year registered to vote now stands at a record high of nearly 1.65 million, making up just over 10 percent of the electorate. Looking at Australia's finely balanced electoral map, there are a number of key marginal seats that could be decided by these young voters the next time the country goes to the polls. Coming from Solomon, Northern Territories, a constituency where the Liberal Party's small majority is endangered, Rodgers has already made up her mind. "I will never vote for Turnbull," said Rodgers, an indigenous Australian dissatisfied with the ruling party's efforts to tackle the social ills afflicting her community. Labor supporters are hoping that the new generation of voters will deliver a "youthquake" similar to the one that nearly carried Britain's Labour Party to an unlikely election victory earlier this year. GOVERNMENT AT RISK A conservative with social liberal credentials, Turnbull had enjoyed support spread across all age groups since coming to power in 2015. But that appeal has faded, particularly among young people facing dimmer prospects because of the sluggish economy. Nearly one-in-five young Australians are underemployed, according to the Brotherhood of St Laurence, an anti-poverty community and advocacy group. A lack of job opportunities has stoked inequality and left many young Australians priced out of the property market that has seen home values soar by 69 percent in just nine years. With opinion polls against him, Turnbull would probably favour hanging on until the last possible moment in 2019 to call an election, but Australia hasn't been giving its prime ministers the luxury of time. Turnbull is the country's fifth prime minister in the last decade, and there is already a constitutional crisis brewing that could precipitate an early election. Australia's High Court will rule on Oct. 13 on whether deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce can remain in parliament after being elected while holding dual citizenship, potentially ruling him ineligible under the country's constitution. If Joyce is ruled ineligible and Turnbull is forced to call an election, there will be little scope for him to win over the youth vote without jeopardising his core support among the more conservative middle-aged and retired voters, political analysts say. "The Liberal Party has always been very strong among over 55's so the number one task is for the PM is to make sure that the core, base vote is as strong as he can make it," said Grahame Morris, former chief of staff to John Howard, Australia's second longest-serving prime minister. "If that base walks away, nothing else matters."

Stirred by same-sex marriage vote, Australia's youth gets serious

Taiwan&#39;s parliament on Monday passed the first draft of a controversial marriage equality bill, moving the island a step closer to becoming the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex nuptials.

A legislative committee approved the amendment to the civil law that would allow gay couples to legally tie the knot, as dozens of opponents to the change rallied outside to demand a referendum on the divisive issue.

&quot;Stop reviewing (the bill). Put it to a referendum,&quot; protesters shouted. Some demonstrators climbed over a wall into the parliamentary grounds and were later removed by police. One man even made it as far as the committee&#39;s meeting room but was stopped before he could reach the podium.&nbsp;

Lawmaker Yu Mei-nu of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who proposed the bill, hailed Monday&#39;s decision as an example of Taiwan&#39;s &quot;mature democracy&quot; and called for calm and tolerance.

&quot;It is not the end of the world to pass such a bill. Heterosexual marriages will not be destroyed...I hope everybody will take a calm and tolerant attitude,&quot; Yu told reporters. The amendments require further vetting before they can take effect, a process Yu estimated would take around six months.

While Taiwan is considered progressive on many issues including gay rights, its roots in Confucianism translate into a strong sense of adherence to traditional values such as family loyalty and social hierarchy. Past attempts to legalise same-sex marriage stalled under the Kuomintang party, which dominated politics for decades until it was unseated by the DPP in this year&#39;s elections.&nbsp;

While support for marriage equality has gained momentum under President Tsai Ing-wen, who has openly supported legalising same-sex marriage, so too have opposing voices. &nbsp;

Both sides held rallies in the month leading up to Monday&#39;s decision, attracting tens of thousands of protesters.&nbsp;

(AFP)

Taiwan is now a step closer to becoming the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage

Taiwan's parliament on Monday passed the first draft of a controversial marriage equality bill, moving the island a step closer to becoming the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex nuptials. A legislative committee approved the amendment to the civil law that would allow gay couples to legally tie the knot, as dozens of opponents to the change rallied outside to demand a referendum on the divisive issue. "Stop reviewing (the bill). Put it to a referendum," protesters shouted. Some demonstrators climbed over a wall into the parliamentary grounds and were later removed by police. One man even made it as far as the committee's meeting room but was stopped before he could reach the podium. Lawmaker Yu Mei-nu of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who proposed the bill, hailed Monday's decision as an example of Taiwan's "mature democracy" and called for calm and tolerance. "It is not the end of the world to pass such a bill. Heterosexual marriages will not be destroyed...I hope everybody will take a calm and tolerant attitude," Yu told reporters. The amendments require further vetting before they can take effect, a process Yu estimated would take around six months. While Taiwan is considered progressive on many issues including gay rights, its roots in Confucianism translate into a strong sense of adherence to traditional values such as family loyalty and social hierarchy. Past attempts to legalise same-sex marriage stalled under the Kuomintang party, which dominated politics for decades until it was unseated by the DPP in this year's elections. While support for marriage equality has gained momentum under President Tsai Ing-wen, who has openly supported legalising same-sex marriage, so too have opposing voices. Both sides held rallies in the month leading up to Monday's decision, attracting tens of thousands of protesters. (AFP)

Taiwan passes first draft of marriage equality bill

Israel&rsquo;s interior ministry has been ordered to grant citizenship to foreign-born same-sex spouses of Israelis under the same terms as traditional couples, the ministry&#39;s lawyer said on Thursday.

Attorney general Avichai Mandelblit issued the instructions to the ministry on November 21 in response to a lawsuit the Israeli Gay Fathers&#39; Association filed before the supreme court.

According to a court transcript sent to AFP, he ordered that the waiting period for naturalisation be reduced to four and a half years, and dropped a requirement that the foreign partner relinquish his or her existing citizenship.

Previously the requirement was seven years for same-sex partners.

Public radio quoted the chairman of the Israeli Gay Fathers&#39; Association, Udi Ledergor, as calling the decision &quot;a great victory which brings to an end the outrageous discrimination against same-sex couples&quot;. &nbsp;

The partners are required to have legally married in a country where, unlike Israel, same-sex marriages are performed.

Israel does however recognise such unions solemnised elsewhere.

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(AFP)

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The partners are required to be legally married in a country where, unlike Israel, same-sex marriages are performed

Israel’s interior ministry has been ordered to grant citizenship to foreign-born same-sex spouses of Israelis under the same terms as traditional couples, the ministry's lawyer said on Thursday. Attorney general Avichai Mandelblit issued the instructions to the ministry on November 21 in response to a lawsuit the Israeli Gay Fathers' Association filed before the supreme court. According to a court transcript sent to AFP, he ordered that the waiting period for naturalisation be reduced to four and a half years, and dropped a requirement that the foreign partner relinquish his or her existing citizenship. Previously the requirement was seven years for same-sex partners. Public radio quoted the chairman of the Israeli Gay Fathers' Association, Udi Ledergor, as calling the decision "a great victory which brings to an end the outrageous discrimination against same-sex couples". The partners are required to have legally married in a country where, unlike Israel, same-sex marriages are performed. Israel does however recognise such unions solemnised elsewhere. (AFP)

Israel: Same-sex partners to get citizenship

Taiwan is expected to become the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriages following a likely decision to present this proposal before a parliamentary committee, reports CNN. 
 
Taiwan has a large gay community and its annual gay pride parade is said to be the biggest in Asia. 
 
It is one of the most progressive places in Asia in terms of safeguarding and promoting LGBT rights, giving legal status to homosexuality and permitting sex change operations. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m sure gay marriage will be legalised soon,&quot; said Chang, 45, who runs one of Taipei&#39;s most famous gay bars, Dalida, in the heart of the city&#39;s gay village. 
 
With the Liberal Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in power, expectations are high that Taiwan will become the first place in Asia to permit same-sex marriage. 
 
Tsai Ing-wen who was sworn in as Taiwan&#39;s first female President in May this year, has repeatedly voiced her support for sexual equality and LGBT rights. 
 
However, homosexuality is still controversial with the older generation, and gay marriage is opposed by politically influential social conservative and Christian groups. 
 
Previously, a bill raised to legalise same sex marriage in 2012 failed in the parliament and Yu Mei-Nu, the DPP legislator who proposed the last bill, says she is preparing to try again. She expects to present the bill later this year.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

Taiwan has a large gay community and its annual gay pride parade is said to be the biggest in Asia

Taiwan is expected to become the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriages following a likely decision to present this proposal before a parliamentary committee, reports CNN. Taiwan has a large gay community and its annual gay pride parade is said to be the biggest in Asia. It is one of the most progressive places in Asia in terms of safeguarding and promoting LGBT rights, giving legal status to homosexuality and permitting sex change operations. "I'm sure gay marriage will be legalised soon," said Chang, 45, who runs one of Taipei's most famous gay bars, Dalida, in the heart of the city's gay village. With the Liberal Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in power, expectations are high that Taiwan will become the first place in Asia to permit same-sex marriage. Tsai Ing-wen who was sworn in as Taiwan's first female President in May this year, has repeatedly voiced her support for sexual equality and LGBT rights. However, homosexuality is still controversial with the older generation, and gay marriage is opposed by politically influential social conservative and Christian groups. Previously, a bill raised to legalise same sex marriage in 2012 failed in the parliament and Yu Mei-Nu, the DPP legislator who proposed the last bill, says she is preparing to try again. She expects to present the bill later this year. (ANI)

Taiwan may become the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage

Thousands of Australians marched at same-sex marriage rallies across the country today, calling on whichever party wins a July 2 national election to quickly introduce same-sex marriage laws. 
 
Conservative Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull supports same-sex marriage and has pledged a public vote on the issue before the end of 2016. 
 
The Labour opposition will skip a public vote and introduce a bill to parliament within 100 days if it wins the election. 
 
Opinion polls say Turnbull&#39;s Conservative coalition and Labour are neck-and-neck ahead of the election. 
 
Protesters in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth marched carrying rainbow flags and signs which read &quot;Equality now&quot;. 
 
Some dressed up in costumes of former prime minister Tony Abbott, an opponent of same-sex marriage, who Turnbull ousted in a party room coup last September. 
 
Openly-gay Labour candidate Pat O&#39;Neill, who marched in Brisbane, said the election will give the gay community a &quot;voice at the ballot box&quot;, reported Australian Associated Press (AAP). 
 
Greens senator Larissa Waters told the crowd a public vote was a waste of time. &quot;It&#39;s not going to be binding on their (government) members - what a joke,&quot; said Waters, reported AAP. 
 
Australia has been criticised by international human rights groups over its slowness to act on same-sex marriage. Several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, United States, France, New Zealand, Ireland, and South Africa, have already amended their marriage laws to recognise same-sex unions. 
 
Turnbull, considered a moderate, brushed off criticism from conservatives to become the first sitting prime minister to attend Sydney&#39;s annual gay Mardi Gras parade in March. 
 
Australia has seen a revolving door of political leadership in recent years. If Turnbull loses on July 2, the change in prime minister would be the fifth since 2010. 
 
(Reuters)

The rally-goers demand that whichever party wins the July 2 national election should quickly introduce same-sex marriage laws

Thousands of Australians marched at same-sex marriage rallies across the country today, calling on whichever party wins a July 2 national election to quickly introduce same-sex marriage laws. Conservative Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull supports same-sex marriage and has pledged a public vote on the issue before the end of 2016. The Labour opposition will skip a public vote and introduce a bill to parliament within 100 days if it wins the election. Opinion polls say Turnbull's Conservative coalition and Labour are neck-and-neck ahead of the election. Protesters in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth marched carrying rainbow flags and signs which read "Equality now". Some dressed up in costumes of former prime minister Tony Abbott, an opponent of same-sex marriage, who Turnbull ousted in a party room coup last September. Openly-gay Labour candidate Pat O'Neill, who marched in Brisbane, said the election will give the gay community a "voice at the ballot box", reported Australian Associated Press (AAP). Greens senator Larissa Waters told the crowd a public vote was a waste of time. "It's not going to be binding on their (government) members - what a joke," said Waters, reported AAP. Australia has been criticised by international human rights groups over its slowness to act on same-sex marriage. Several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, United States, France, New Zealand, Ireland, and South Africa, have already amended their marriage laws to recognise same-sex unions. Turnbull, considered a moderate, brushed off criticism from conservatives to become the first sitting prime minister to attend Sydney's annual gay Mardi Gras parade in March. Australia has seen a revolving door of political leadership in recent years. If Turnbull loses on July 2, the change in prime minister would be the fifth since 2010. (Reuters)

Thousands rally in Australia for same-sex marriage

Australia&#39;s Prime Minister insisted today a referendum on legalising same-sex marriage will be held this year if his government is re-elected despite the Labor opposition calling it &quot;a taxpayer-funded platform for homophobia&quot;. 
 
The country holds elections on July 2 with the latest opinion poll showing the ruling Liberal-led coalition and Labour neck-and-neck. 
 
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who is well-known for his support of gay marriage, is in favour of a referendum on the issue instead of a parliamentary vote. 
 
But Labor has hardened its language against a public vote, in what commentators said was a strategic move to set up the issue as a clear choice on polling day. 
 
&quot;We have a very clear policy which is that every Australian will get a vote on the subject,&quot; Turnbull, the first sitting Australian leader to attend the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, told reporters. 
 
&quot;Of course, if we are successful on July 2, then I have every expectation that the parliament will swiftly legislate for a plebiscite and a plebiscite will be held shortly after parliament resumes, which I would assume to be in August. 
 
&quot;So I would hope that the plebiscite could be held before the end of the year.&quot; 
 
Labor has pledged to hold a parliamentary vote to change the Marriage Act within 100 days if it wins office, and warned that allowing the public to decide risked exposing underlying homophobia. 
 
It has suggested a plebiscite could unleash hateful advertising and expose children of gay parents to negative messages. 
 
&quot;In modern Australia, no one should have to justify their sexuality or their love, to anyone else,&quot; Labor leader Bill Shorten said at Labor&#39;s official election campaign launch on Sunday. 
 
&quot;And instead of sitting in judgement, instead of providing a taxpayer-funded platform for homophobia, we will gift every Australian an equal right in respect of love. Nothing less.&quot; 
 
Australia is seen as lagging behind a growing number of countries on marriage reform and popular support for change is high. 
 
Same-sex couples can have civil unions or register their relationships in most states across Australia, but the government does not consider them married under national law. 
 
The issue is shaping up as a key election issue, along with economic management, immigration, and climate change, in polls too close to call. 
 
A Newspoll in The Australian broadsheet today showed the outcome was on a knife edge with the Liberals and Labor both locked at 50-50 on a two-party basis. 
 
The poll of 1,805 people from June 16-19 has Turnbull favoured as the better Prime Minister on 46 per cent to Shorten&#39;s 31 per cent, but neither of them polled well on performance satisfaction. 
(AFP) 
 
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His opposition called it 'a taxpayer-funded platform for homophobia'

Australia's Prime Minister insisted today a referendum on legalising same-sex marriage will be held this year if his government is re-elected despite the Labor opposition calling it "a taxpayer-funded platform for homophobia". The country holds elections on July 2 with the latest opinion poll showing the ruling Liberal-led coalition and Labour neck-and-neck. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who is well-known for his support of gay marriage, is in favour of a referendum on the issue instead of a parliamentary vote. But Labor has hardened its language against a public vote, in what commentators said was a strategic move to set up the issue as a clear choice on polling day. "We have a very clear policy which is that every Australian will get a vote on the subject," Turnbull, the first sitting Australian leader to attend the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, told reporters. "Of course, if we are successful on July 2, then I have every expectation that the parliament will swiftly legislate for a plebiscite and a plebiscite will be held shortly after parliament resumes, which I would assume to be in August. "So I would hope that the plebiscite could be held before the end of the year." Labor has pledged to hold a parliamentary vote to change the Marriage Act within 100 days if it wins office, and warned that allowing the public to decide risked exposing underlying homophobia. It has suggested a plebiscite could unleash hateful advertising and expose children of gay parents to negative messages. "In modern Australia, no one should have to justify their sexuality or their love, to anyone else," Labor leader Bill Shorten said at Labor's official election campaign launch on Sunday. "And instead of sitting in judgement, instead of providing a taxpayer-funded platform for homophobia, we will gift every Australian an equal right in respect of love. Nothing less." Australia is seen as lagging behind a growing number of countries on marriage reform and popular support for change is high. Same-sex couples can have civil unions or register their relationships in most states across Australia, but the government does not consider them married under national law. The issue is shaping up as a key election issue, along with economic management, immigration, and climate change, in polls too close to call. A Newspoll in The Australian broadsheet today showed the outcome was on a knife edge with the Liberals and Labor both locked at 50-50 on a two-party basis. The poll of 1,805 people from June 16-19 has Turnbull favoured as the better Prime Minister on 46 per cent to Shorten's 31 per cent, but neither of them polled well on performance satisfaction. (AFP)

Australian PM vows to legalise same-sex marriage, if re-elected