Page 3577 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 22 October 2013
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While I understand that discrimination against them will only fully disappear with generational change in attitudes, as a generation we need to do all that we can to set examples for future generations.
The religious opponents of this bill, we have heard today, claim that marriage is an institution which cannot be redefined. While I must emphasise that we are not trying to redefine the religious institution of marriage, we are redefining the civil institution of marriage. I may not be a practising religious man. However, I do know that the Bible is a book which aims to teach love and acceptance, which this bill aims to recognise—the love which two people feel for each other. I believe that, as has been done in history, the interpretation of this book will change to reflect the commonly accepted views in society.
Then there are other redefinitions of civil marriage which have occurred in Australia, such as allowing convicts to marry non-convicts and allowing Aboriginals to marry non-Aboriginals. It is clear that over time marriage, both civil and religious, has been redefined, reflecting the attitudes of a modern society.
Other perplexing arguments thrown up by the opponents to the bill are the supposed problems surrounding same-sex couples raising children. They say children need a mother and a father. I understand that biologically this is true. However, I believe that as a society it has become accepted that the traditional notion of the biological family can be complemented by other models of families, such as single parents and same-sex couples raising children.
I raised three children as a single parent for a great deal of their adolescence. I believe that as long as parents love and care for their children, this is all that matters. Studies have found that same-sex couples, like single parents, make just as suitable parents. However, this is not a debate about same-sex couples raising children. The ACT has allowed same-sex couples to adopt children for almost 10 years now.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I stand here proud to be part of this government, the most progressive government in the country, implementing important changes to our laws that I am confident will improve the lives of all Canberrans. This bill, of course, is one of many changes the ACT government is making in order to make Canberra Australia’s most LGBTI friendly city. I think this is particularly important, given the high concentration of same-sex couples in Canberra.
I commend this bill to the Assembly, and I could not feel more proud to be standing here on the right side of history today.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo-Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations and Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development) (11.20), in reply: I thank all members on this side of the chamber who have spoken in support of this bill today. I particularly acknowledge the support and the leadership provided by our Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher. Her unwavering commitment to this reform and to a progressive law reform agenda for the territory I know resonates with all of her colleagues and with our city.
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