The Australian Greens are urging everyone, particularly young people, to check that their enrolment details are up-to-date or to quickly get themselves on the roll so they have the choice of voting in a postal plebiscite on marriage equality if one goes ahead, said Australian Greens leader Dr Richard Di Natale and Greens LGBTI Spokesperson Sen. Janet Rice.

Christopher Pyne’s comments about marriage equality over the weekend show just how impatient many members of the Coalition are for marriage equality to be achieved now, say the Greens.

‘It’s staggering that Malcolm Turnbull is publicly standing by Tony Abbott’s plebiscite, meanwhile one of his senior ministers says equality will happen “sooner than everyone thinks,”’ said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens spokesperson for LGBTIQ issues.

‘Australian couples shouldn’t be forced to keep waiting for their love to be recognised,’ said Senator Rice.

Surf Coast Council shows great leadership on marriage equality

Australian Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson Senator Janet Rice today congratulated Victoria’s Surf Coast Shire for its courageous and principled support of marriage equality.

There is a way out of the government’s awkward bickering with Australia’s top CEOs over marriage equality, say the Greens.

“Every section of society is crying out for marriage equality, yet the Prime Minister is being held back by the far right of his party,” said Australian Greens marriage equality spokesperson Senator Janet Rice.

“The easy way for this issue to be resolved is for Malcolm Turnbull to allow a free vote in the parliament and bring on marriage equality.”

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The Senate has delivered a consensus report on the government’s draft exposure marriage equality Bill, providing a path for marriage equality to happen in this Parliament.

“This unprecedented show of collaboration, negotiation and consensus has given us a way forward to achieve marriage equality in this Parliament,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson and member of the Committee.

A Senate Inquiry has shown that equal marriage is possible in this term of Parliament, despite highlighting flaws in the federal government’s draft Bill.

“This Inquiry is another step in the journey towards marriage equality,” said the Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson Senator Janet Rice.

“We’ve heard from so many people and organisations that exemptions aren't needed to protect religious freedoms and would entrench discrimination.

“We would not allow conscientious objections for celebrants based on age or race, and we should not allow objections for gender or sexuality.

The Greens will join Labor and the crossbench to create a Senate inquiry on marriage equality and the Coalition government’s draft bill to amend the Marriage Act.

“Ditching the plebiscite has paved the way for the Parliament to decide on marriage equality,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson.

“The only way we’re going to achieve marriage equality is through co-operation from all sides of Parliament.

“This is an opportunity for anyone with questions about the path forward for marriage equality to have them answered.

The Australian Greens welcome reports of renewed discussion in the Liberal party about a way forward to achieve marriage equality, saying that the best path to equality is through cross-party legislation.

"We look forward to working with the Coalition, Labor and crossbench MPs to progress legislation that removes the barriers to equality," said Senator Janet Rice, Greens LGBTIQ spokesperson.

"I reiterate our call on Prime Minister Turnbull to grant his MPs a free vote so Parliament can do its job on behalf of the majority of Australians, who want marriage equality."