Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will speak at a rally for a free vote for Marriage Equality today  at 2pm at Taylor Square, Sydney. Joining the Senator, along with thousands of marriage equality supporters, will be the Deputy Leader of the Opposition Tanya Plibersek, Sydney City Councillor Christine Forster and Rodney Croome, National Director of Australian Marriage Equality.

" I am delighted to be joining thousands of Australian's to show my support for Marriage Equality at the rally today", Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

With Bill Shorten announcing that he will introduce his own marriage equality bill on Monday, and with existing bills from Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Senator David Leyonhjelm, it is now time for all parties wanting to end discrimination in marriage to work together on a common goal.

The Australian Greens are calling for a cross party meeting to be held on Monday 1 June to discuss strategies that will ensure that marriage equality is secured for all Australians.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young

The Greens have announced they will bring on a vote for Marriage Equality this year. The Party has set down dates in the Senate for debate to commence and a vote to be held on the Greens Senator Hanson-Young's private members bill currently before the Senate. 

Debate on the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill to commence on 18 June 2015

Vote on the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill on 12 November 2015

SENATOR SARAH HANSON-YOUNG : GREENS SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA & SPONSOR of MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL

The Australian Greens welcome the historic vote of 'YES' for same sex marriage in Ireland and call on Australia to follow suit.

"The news of a resounding 'YES' vote in Ireland for amending their constitution to extend the right to marry to all couples, regardless of gender,  is fantastic and it is time for Australia to catch up" Greens marriage equality spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"The Greens will push for a vote on a bill for same sex marriages to be recognised before the year is out

Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne says the Abbott government's wasteful move to strike down ACT marriage laws in the High Court will be nothing more than a futile attempt to maintain discrimination against same-sex couples contrary to the wishes of the Australian people.

"The Abbott government should remove marriage discrimination itself and save the States and Territories the effort and cost," Senator Milne said.

"The Greens will be introducing legislation yet again when the Parliament resumes and I invite the PM and Labor to get behind it.

The Australian Greens say Attorney-General George Brandis should release legal advice he says justifies High Court action against ACT marriage equality laws.

"Attorney-General George Brandis should put up or shut up when it comes to the advice that supposedly justifies spending public money on a legal challenge that is all about maintaining last century discrimination," Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said.

"Tony Abbott's attempt to block same-sex marriage by taking the ACT Government to the High Court will fail because Australians want change and are sick of his last century and discriminatory attitude," Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne said.

"Give up Tony Abbott. You are not going to thwart the will of the Australian people to end marriage discrimination.

"At some point Tony Abbott will have to admit that he supports discrimination against LGBTI people in Australia. It is wrong.

The Greens have a vision of a caring Australia, where every person is able to realise their highest aspirations, free from discrimination in our laws and in our minds.

That's why the Greens have always stood up for full equality for LGBTI Australians, and always will.

It was Christine Milne's Bill that decriminalised homosexuality in Tasmania in 1997, after more than a decade of campaigning and negotiating.