Australia is ready for marriage equality. The community understands that it's an issue of basic fairness. The Greens have listened to the community, right from the start, and we've acted. Now, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott are standing in the way.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, and MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt, have Bills before Parliament that would remove discrimination from the Marriage Act and give same-sex couples the right to marry. If Parliament votes for our Bills, Australia will join countries like Canada, Sweden and South Africa in recognising same-sex marriage.
Our pressure and the community campaign for equality have already changed hearts and minds in the Parliament. Labor members now have a conscience vote on the issue - and some Labor members have already said publicly that they will vote for equality. But they aren't enough. By loudly opposing change, the Prime Minister is holding Labor back from voting for equality. Some Coalition members want to vote for equality, but Tony Abbott won't let his members vote with their communities for change.
Without the support of the Prime Minister - and without Tony Abbott giving Coalition members a conscience vote - marriage equality will not happen in Australia.
Thousands have already called on Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott to stop blocking equality - join them here on our new petition today.
LGBTI Australians face many and complex issues. Find out more about our work on those issues here.
