Division Description Changes — Bills — Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017; in Committee — 28th Nov 2017

Change	Division
senate vote 2017-11-28#6 Edited by mackay staff on 2017-12-24 18:47:17	Title Bills — Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017; in Committee Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017 - in Committee - Charities Description ~~<p class='motion-notice motion-notice-truncated'>Long debate text truncated.</p>~~ The majority voted against [amendments](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2017-11-28.178.1) introduced by Liberal Senator [James Paterson](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/james_paterson) (Vic), who [explained](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2017-11-28.178.1) that the aim of his amendments is to: > ensure that charities which are operating today, whether or not they receive public funding, can continue to operate as they do after this law changes. They can continue to seek public funding if they're eligible for it and they can continue to retain their tax status if they're already eligible for it. ### Why did some Liberals vote Yes and others No? The Liberal Party was split on this issue, with some voting Yes and others voting No. This split within the party is unusual but, given the nature of the subject matter of the vote, the Liberal Party decided to run this as a free vote, meaning that its members could vote however they chose rather than having to vote along party lines. ### What does this bill do? This [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/s1099) will allow same-sex couples to marry under Australian law. However, it will also: > enable ministers of religion, religious marriage celebrants, chaplains and bodies established for religious purposes to refuse to solemnise or provide facilities, goods and services for marriages on religious grounds; and make amendments ... to provide that a refusal by a minister of religion, religious marriage celebrant or chaplain to solemnise marriage in prescribed circumstances does not constitute unlawful discrimination. Read more in the [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1718a/18bd054).

~~<p class='motion-notice motion-notice-truncated'>Long debate text truncated.</p>~~
The majority voted against [amendments](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2017-11-28.178.1) introduced by Liberal Senator [James Paterson](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/james_paterson) (Vic), who [explained](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2017-11-28.178.1) that the aim of his amendments is to:
> *ensure that charities which are operating today, whether or not they receive public funding, can continue to operate as they do after this law changes. They can continue to seek public funding if they're eligible for it and they can continue to retain their tax status if they're already eligible for it.*
### Why did some Liberals vote Yes and others No?
The Liberal Party was split on this issue, with some voting Yes and others voting No. This split within the party is unusual but, given the nature of the subject matter of the vote, the Liberal Party decided to run this as a free vote, meaning that its members could vote however they chose rather than having to vote along party lines.
### What does this bill do?
This [bill](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/s1099) will allow same-sex couples to marry under Australian law. However, it will also:
> *enable ministers of religion, religious marriage celebrants, chaplains and bodies established for religious purposes to refuse to solemnise or provide facilities, goods and services for marriages on religious grounds; and make amendments ... to provide that a refusal by a minister of religion, religious marriage celebrant or chaplain to solemnise marriage in prescribed circumstances does not constitute unlawful discrimination.*
Read more in the [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1718a/18bd054).