Text of bill | Explanatory memoranda | Second reading speeches | Proposed amendments | Schedules of amendments | Bills Digest

Bills of previous Parliaments

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of bills homepages, the authoritative sources for verifying the progress of bills are the House of Representatives Votes and Proceedings and the Journals of the Senate.

Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017


Type
Private
Originating house
Senate
Status
Act
Sponsor
SMITH, Sen Dean

Summary

Amends the: Marriage Act 1961 to: redefine marriage as ‘a union of two people’; introduce non-gendered language so that the requirements of the Act apply equally to all marriages; enable same-sex marriages that have been, or will be, solemnised under the law of a foreign country to be recognised in Australia; amend the definition of ‘authorised celebrant’ to include new categories of religious marriage celebrants and certain Australian Defence Force officers; enable ministers of religion, religious marriage celebrants, chaplains and bodies established for religious purposes to refuse to solemnise or provide facilities, goods and services for marriages on religious grounds; and make amendments contingent on the commencement of the proposed Civil Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2017; and Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to provide that a refusal by a minister of religion, religious marriage celebrant or chaplain to solemnise marriage in prescribed circumstances does not constitute unlawful discrimination.

Progress of bill

For committee reference information, please see the Notes section at the end of this page.

Senate
Introduced and read a first time 15/11/17  
Second reading moved 15/11/17  
Second reading debate 16/11/17  
Second reading debate 27/11/17  
Second reading debate 28/11/17  
Second reading agreed to 28/11/17  
Committee of the Whole debate 28/11/17 Amendment details: 8 amendments moved by Senator Brandis agreed to
Committee of the Whole debate 29/11/17  
Third reading debated 29/11/17  
Third reading agreed to 29/11/17  
     
House of Representatives
Introduced and read a first time 04/12/17  
Second reading moved 04/12/17  
Second reading debate 04/12/17  
Second reading debate 05/12/17  
Second reading debate 06/12/17  
Second reading debate 07/12/17  
Second reading agreed to 07/12/17  
Consideration in detail debate 07/12/17  
Third reading debated 07/12/17  
Third reading agreed to 07/12/17  
     
Finally passed both Houses 07/12/17  
Assent 08/12/17 Act no: 129 - Year: 2017
     

Text of bill

  • First reading

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • Third reading

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • As passed by both Houses

MS-Word PDF HTML

Explanatory memoranda

  • Explanatory memorandum

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • Revised explanatory memorandum

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • Supplementary explanatory memorandum

MS-Word PDF HTML

Second reading speeches


Proposed amendments

Senate
  • [sheet 8328 revised]
FAWCETT, Sen David
PATERSON, Sen James

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • [sheet 8333 revised]
BRANDIS, Sen George
CANAVAN, Sen Matthew

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • [sheet 8330]
FAWCETT, Sen David
PATERSON, Sen James

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • [sheet 8329]
FAWCETT, Sen David
PATERSON, Sen James

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • [sheet 8327]
FAWCETT, Sen David
PATERSON, Sen James

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • [sheet 8326]
FAWCETT, Sen David
PATERSON, Sen James

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • [sheet 8334]
BRANDIS, Sen George

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • Australian Greens [sheet 8299]
RICE, Sen Janet

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • Liberal Democratic Party [sheet 8321 revised]
LEYONHJELM, Sen David

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • Pauline Hanson's One Nation [sheet 8332]
HANSON, Sen Pauline
BURSTON, Sen Brian
GEORGIOU, Sen Peter

MS-Word PDF HTML
House of Representatives
  • Non-Government [revised]
HASTIE, Andrew, MP

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • Non-Government
HENDERSON, Sarah, MP

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • Non-Government
BANDT, Adam, MP

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • Non-Government
MORRISON, Scott, MP

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • Non-Government
SUKKAR, Michael, MP

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • Non-Government [sheet 1]
HAWKE, Alex, MP

MS-Word PDF HTML
  • Non-Government
BROAD, Andrew, MP

MS-Word PDF HTML

Schedules of amendments

Bills Digest



Notes
  • An electronic version of this Act is available on the Federal Register of Legislation (www.legislation.gov.au)