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Advisory report on the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2012 and Marriage Amendment Bill 2012

18 June 2012

View the report as a single document - (PDF 780KB)

View the report as separate downloadable parts:



Preliminary Pages	(PDF 106KB)

Chapter 1 Introduction	(PDF 82KB)
The Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2012 (the Bandt/Wilkie Bill) Objects Schedule 1—Amendment of the Marriage Act 1961 The Marriage Amendment Bill 2012 (the Jones Bill) Objects Schedule 1—Amendment of the Marriage Act 1961 Purpose of inquiry Scope of the report Structure of the report

Chapter 2 History of Marriage Laws in Australia	(PDF 98KB)
Pre-1961 Post-1961 Relationships other than marriage Same-sex de facto relationships Relationship registers and civil unions The difference between marriage and other relationships

Chapter 3 Values in Australian society	(PDF 207KB)
Families and marriage Religious values Equality Acceptance Responses

Chapter 4 Legal issues	(PDF 123KB)
Marriage power Provisions of the bills Objects Subsection 5(1) (definition of marriage) Section 47 (ministers of religion not bound to solemnise marriage) Section 88EA (recognition of overseas same-sex marriages) Consequential amendments

Chapter 5 In conclusion	(PDF 48KB)

Appendix A – List of published statements	(PDF 33KB)

Appendix B – List of witnesses appearing at public hearing	(PDF 54KB)

Additional Comments	(PDF 102KB)