COMMONWEALTH TO DEFEND MARRIAGE AGAINST TERRITORY LAWS
The Australian Government will act to defend the fundamental institution of marriage against radical laws passed by the Stanhope Government.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock today announced the intention to invalidate the ACT’s Civil Unions Act 2006.
”The Commonwealth Marriage Act makes it clear marriage is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others. This definition, which reflects the traditional understanding of marriage, was passed into law with bipartisan support in 2004,” Mr Ruddock stated.
The ACT’s Civil Unions Act 2006 creates a statutory scheme for the recognition of relationships which bears striking similarity to the Commonwealth’s regulation of marriage. Section 5(2) of the Civil Unions Act states:
A civil union is diferent to a marriage but is to be treated for all purposes under territory law in the same w a y as a marriage.
Mr Ruddock said the ACT Chief Minister had consistently misrepresented the intent of the legislation and has already acknowledged as much with his recent amendments to the draft bill.
”Despite his public assurances to the contrary, this legislation has always been a cynical attempt by the Chief Minister to undermine the institution of marriage and circumvent the Commonwealth Marriage Act,” he said. ”I have raised with Mr Stanhope the Government’s concerns with any ACT statutes which create ambiguity between marriage and civil unions.
“Amendments to the initial draft have not altered the substance of the ACT laws which make it clear that same sex civil unions are just marriage by another name.”
Under section 35 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) A c t 1988, the Governor-General, on the advice of Executive Council, may disallow an ACT enactment within six months. The Government wiIl recommend this course of action.
Media Contact: Charlie McKillop (02) 6277 7300 0419278715
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