Things seem to be happening in Australia...

I was (shamefully) hanging around on ninemsn and noticed the shortlist of current national stories on the right. This is what i saw:



Queenslanders march for marriage equality

Melbourne rallies for gay marriage

ACT moves to legalise gay civil unions

SA, Tas premiers join gay marriage rallies

that's 4 states (out of 6) and 1 territory (out of 2) making headlines today.

 

Many laws in general are legislated at state level, with federal legislation also applicable in all states and territories but as for this particular matter, we're yet to find out.

 

Lateline - 28/08/2012: Tasmania takes first step to gay marriage

PM - Marriage equality law tabled in Tasmanian Parliament 28/08/2012

Gay marriage bill before Tassie parliament

Spoiler

Same-sex marriage legislation could be passed by Tasmania's lower house by the end of the week, after the introduction of a bill co-sponsored by Labor and the Greens.

The Same-Sex Marriage Bill 2012, co-sponsored by Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings and Greens leader Nick McKim, will be debated on Thursday as the state bids to become the first in Australia to allow gay weddings.

Ms Giddings announced her decision to go it alone earlier this month, but Tasmania has since been joined by South Australia, the ACT and the Northern Territory.

All are eyeing the estimated $100 million economic boost that could come from becoming the first destination for wedding tourism, but Ms Giddings said she hoped Tasmania's move would be a temporary one.

"Ultimately true equality will only come when the commonwealth's marriage act itself is amended to allow for same-sex marriage," she told reporters.

The bill was produced in just over three weeks and builds on previous efforts by Mr McKim, who has been pushing the issue in parliament since 2005.

In its 102 pages, it sets out everything from the marriageable age - 18 years - to the conduct of celebrants, maintenance payments and divorce, which will be administered by the Tasmanian Supreme Court.

The bill will almost certainly pass the Legislative Assembly but faces hurdles in Tasmania's upper house, the Legislative Council, and a possible High Court challenge.

The Legislative Council is divided on the issue, with several of the chamber's 15 members - 13 of whom are independents - yet to declare their hand.

Ms Giddings says legal advice from the state's solicitor-general and constitutional experts has left her confident the law will stand up in the High Court.

"It will be an absolute historic and significant moment for the entire state of Tasmania and in fact the nation of Australia," she said.

The historic move in the Tasmanian parliament was welcomed by gay rights group Australian Marriage Equality.

"The Tasmanian bill is the most detailed bill for a state marriage scheme that we have seen, and we hope it will also be used by the other states considering this vital reform," national convener Alex Greenwich said in a statement.

Tasmanian Opposition Leader Will Hodgman, whose Liberal colleagues will vote against the bill, used parliament to question the government's priorities and to warn of High Court action.

"There's more than a whiff of self-indulgence in all this," he said.

The Australian Christian Lobby also took aim at the move.

"The last thing Australia needs is conflicting marriage laws throughout the nation," Tasmanian ACL director Mark Brown said.