Rudd defies gay lobby

May 4, 2008, 6:42pm,  206 views

My respect for Kevin Rudd’s political antenna has been revived after some doubts emerged during the 2020 love fest.

The Federal Government has vetoed an ACT Government proposal to legalise gay marriages. According to The Age:

The ACT government originally passed its Civil Partnerships Bill in 2006 but it was disallowed by the Howard government.

Attorney General Simon Corbell had hoped the new Federal Government would take a different approach, especially after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd promised in December not to interfere with state and territory legislation.

But Mr Corbell said the ACT had been presented with a “stark choice” by the new government: proceed with the legislation and face certain veto or change the legislation.

The ACT government now plans to amend its legislation to provide for a form of civil partnerships without ceremony.

That’s a reasonable outcome. Gay unions should have legal recognition if the partners are in a long-term relationship.

To give state endorsement for a civil ceremony though is taking things too far.

Good to see some sanity restored in Canberra.