18th Nov 2010, 10:17 AM – Representatives Motions - Same-Sex Marriage - Change the wording of the motion

This division relates to the Policy For same sex marriage.

This division is a vote about a motion rather than a bill. According to the House of Representatives Practice [923kb], a motion is “any proposal made for the purpose of eliciting a decision of the House”.

The members were voting on whether:

the words proposed to be omitted ( Mr Stephen Jones’s amendment) stand part of the question.

In other words, they were voting on whether the original words of the motion should be left alone.

The vote arose because Labor Party MP Stephen Jones proposed to amend the motion introduced by Greens Party MP Adam Bandt.

Someone who voted Aye supported the wording of the original motion. Since the majority voted No, the wording of the original motion will now be omitted and a vote will be taken on whether to insert the words proposed by Jones MP’s amendment (see that division here).

Debate in Parliament

The original motion introduced by Bandt MP was:

That this House:

(1) notes that there is:

(a) a growing list of countries that allow same-sex couples to marry including the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Canada and South Africa; and

(b) widespread support for equal marriage in the Australian community; and

(2) calls on all parliamentarians to gauge their constituents’ views on the issue of marriage equality.

Before introducing the motion, Bandt MP sought leave to amend his motion but leave was not granted. The wording Bandt MP wanted to use was the same as the wording proposed by Jones MP in his amendment, which was:

That all the words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words: “this House calls on all parliamentarians, consistent with their duties as representatives, to gauge their constituents’ views on ways to achieve equal treatment for same sex couples including marriage”.

This is why Bandt MP joined Jones MP and the rest of the Labor Party in voting ‘No’ in this division.

Background to the Motion

The substantive motion introduced by Bandt MP was part of the Greens Party’s campaign to change the law to recognise same-sex marriage. At the time it was introduced, the Senate was considering the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2010, which had been introduced by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.