Timid inaction on marriage law reforms

IT IS with an eye on social justice issues that motivates me to correspond the following for community awareness and consideration in support of a “yes” vote in the pending postal plebiscite for overdue legalisation of same sex marriage equality in Australia.

In July 2015 the US federal congress in accord with human and civil rights reform, legislated equal gay marriage into law on July 1, 2013 thereafter coming into force on March 13, 2014.

In July 2013 the UK Parliament passed equal gay marriage equality into law on July 1, 2013 thereafter coming into force on the March 13, 2014.

Subsequent to this, 14 British overseas territories all made same sex marriage lawful between June 2014 and April 2017.

The Scottish parliament legislated same sex marriage into law on February 3, 2014 thereafter taking effect on December 16, 2014.

After following the lead of Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany and Portugal, NZ just across the Tasman enshrined same sex marriage equality into law in April 2013.

Also the predominantly Roman Catholic countries of Spain and Ireland have today legislated same sex marriage equality into their respective legal systems.

Almost all of the above mentioned countries had gay marriage equality legislated into law autonomously within their respective parliaments demonstrating the political fortitude to progressively influence social reform to the good in accord with the wishes of their people.

Confronted with this global reality check speaks volumes where inward looking Australia is concerned, with past and sitting federal governments’ timid inaction representing serious political neglect by both sides of politics with this outstanding human rights issue now about to cost the Australian taxpayers a reported $ 122 million to achieve some resolve on this social reform. R. BENNETT,

Aitkenvale.