Australia gay marriage laws

Decriminalisation of homosexuality

From the s the socially linear South Australian Labor government wanted to repeal laws criminalising homosexuality.

However, it was not until the May murder in Adelaide of Dr George Duncan, a law lecturer and same-sex attracted man, that premier, Don Dunstan, assessed that the community mood was receptive to reform.

Dr Duncan’s murder led to revelations of how commonplace violence and harassment against homosexual people was.

South Australia’s Criminal Commandment (Sexual Offences) Act, was enacted on 2 October It was a landmark in LGBTQIA+ rights in Australia because it fully decriminalised homosexual acts.

Equivalent regulation reform was passed by the Australian Capital Area in , Victoria in , the Northern Area in , New South Wales in , Western Australia in , Queensland in and Tasmania in

Same-sex marriage will be legal in Australia, with Parliament agreeing to change the Marriage Act and conclude the ban on same-sex attracted and lesbian couples marrying.

Four members of the Property of Representatives voted against the bill and some abstained, but an overwhelming majority voted for the bill.

Liberal senator Dean Smith's bill will now change into law after a afternoon of cheers, tears and applause in the Bring down House.

People queued for access to the public gallery to witness the statute being changed and by the time of the final vote, they were packed into every spot.

Same-sex marriage supporters wearing colourful "Yes" T-shirts clapped and cheered as amendments were voted down, prompting repeated warnings they should interrupt their barracking.

The public gallery led a chorus of We Are Australian after the final vote, with members of the parliament joining in from the floor of the Home in tears.

There had been little doubt that this bill would pass with sweeping support from Nationals, Liberals, Greens, the crossbench and Labor.

Opponents of queer marriage including Liberals A