Hope it passes!

Originally posted by Leppie I doubt it will pass, didn't they do this a few years ago and it failed?

Originally posted by Neonika Hope it passes!

Originally posted by HeavenMonster It's time! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TBd-UCwVAY

Originally posted by LuLuDrops The main party locked its members in a no vote. It never let them vote using their heart (conscience vote).

You're so smart

So does it look like theres no chance of it passing?

Originally posted by Neonika You're so smart So does it look like theres no chance of it passing?

I can't see Abbott still banning a conscience vote, especially since the surge in support after Ireland on the weekend, so there is every chance this will go to a free vote.

I honestly think they are close right now to the numbers needed. Without sounding confident (I'm not), this is best chance for Australia to get in a LONG time.

The reaction on social media has been HUGE and the momentum is truly getting real. It might finally be time.

Originally posted by ks_dollar That fact that it's still illegal here.

Australia is a country that has so many backwards laws despite appearing to be one of the most culturally free and developed nations in the world.

YASS Mother Aus come thru

Iggy's Impact.

Originally posted by macrocycle Isn't Australia supposed to be the gayest country on the planet? How is this only happening now?

Haha sis it's a long story.

You gotta understand firstly that marriage is a federal thing here, all or nothing. It has to be changed through a federal Parliament vote.

We had a Prime Minister from 1996-2007 called John Howard who was the Liberal/National leader (similar to U.S. Republicans) and was very conservative about Marriage and gay rights in general.

In 2007, the Labor party (similar to U.S. Democrats) came into power with their leader Kevin Rudd. Now Rudd was also religious person and opposed same-sex marriage, he did however change all of the tax, hospital rights, will, etc. laws so that a registered defacto same-sex couple had the same rights as married people (apart from adoption/surrogacy rights which is a state issue).

Now in 2010 Julia Gillard (also Labor party) became PM in a political coup. In 2011 the issue really began to pick up steam here and a vote was put to the Parliament but there was a binding vote on the opposition side (due to the opposition leader Tony Abbott saying so) and despite Julia Gillard being an atheist who lived with her boyfriend, unmarried, she didn't support it either and the vote lost basically 2:1.

Julia Gillard was disposed of in another political coup and Kevin Rudd became PM again. It was Rudd v Abbott at the 2013 election and Rudd switched his stance on this issue and now supported it. That election campaign had the hilarious situation in where Abbott opposed it despite having a gay sister (who was obviously for it), and Rudd was for it despite having a religious conservative sister who was an outspoken critic against it.



Tony Abbott's Liberal/Nationals won the election in 2013 and it's been sort of a bubbling issue ever since, the Liberal/National Government still have that binding no vote from 2011 but today's events may see Abbott drop that and allow all people in his party to vote whichever way they want (the Labor Party has had this since the 2011 vote).

If Abbott doesn't drop the binding vote for his party members there is no chance, but if he does there may just be enough members, but will be extremely close.

We'll have to wait till next week to see.