2010-2011-2012-2013 

 

The Parliament of the 

Commonwealth of Australia 

 

THE SENATE 

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2013 

 

No.      , 2013 

 

(Senator Hanson-Young) 

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend the Marriage Act 1961 to 

create the opportunity for marriage equality for 

people regardless of their sex, sexual orientation or 

gender identity, and for related purposes 

   

   

 

 

i       Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

Contents 

1 

Short title ........................................................................................... 1

 

2 

Commencement ................................................................................. 1

 

3 

Objects ............................................................................................... 2

 

4 

Schedule ............................................................................................. 2

 

Schedule 1--Amendment of the Marriage Act 1961

 

3

 

 

 

 

Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2013       No.      , 2013       1 

A Bill for an Act to amend the Marriage Act 1961 to 

1 

create the opportunity for marriage equality for 

2 

people regardless of their sex, sexual orientation or 

3 

gender identity, and for related purposes 

4 

The Parliament of Australia enacts: 

5 

1  Short title 

6 

 

  This Act may be cited as the Marriage Equality Amendment Act 

7 

2013. 

8 

2  Commencement 

9 

 

  This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal 

10 

Assent. 

11 

 

   

 

 

2            Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

3  Objects 

1 

 

  The objects of this Act are: 

2 

 

(a)  to remove from the Marriage Act 1961 discrimination against 

3 

people on the basis of their sex, sexual orientation or gender 

4 

identity; and 

5 

 

(b)  to recognise that freedom of sexual orientation and gender 

6 

identity are fundamental human rights; and 

7 

 

(c)  to promote acceptance and the celebration of diversity. 

8 

4  Schedule 

9 

 

  The Marriage Act 1961 is amended as set out in the applicable 

10 

items in Schedule 1, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act 

11 

has effect according to its terms. 

12 

 

 

13 

Amendment of the Marriage Act 1961 

   

   

 

 

Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2013       No.      , 2013            3 

Schedule 1

--

Amendment of the Marriage Act 

1 

1961 

2 

   

3 

Marriage Act 1961 

4 

 

5 

1  Subsection 5(1) (definition of marriage) 

6 

Repeal the definition, substitute: 

7 

marriage means the union of two people, to the exclusion of all 

8 

others, voluntarily entered into for life. 

9 

2  Subsection 45(2) 

10 

After "or husband", insert ", or partner". 

11 

3  Subsection 46(1) 

12 

Omit "a man and a woman", substitute "two people". 

13 

4  Section 47 

14 

After "Part", insert "or in any other law". 

15 

5  Subsection 72(2) 

16 

After "or husband", insert ", or partner". 

17 

6  Section 88EA 

18 

Repeal the section. 

19 

7  Part III of the Schedule (table item 1) 

20 

Omit "a husband and wife", substitute "two people".

 

21 

8  Application

--

ministers of religion 

22 

To avoid doubt, the amendments made by this Schedule do not limit the 

23 

effect of section 47 (ministers of religion not bound to solemnise 

24 

marriage etc.) of the Marriage Act 1961. 

25 

9  Regulations may make consequential amendments of Acts 

26 

Amendment of the Marriage Act 1961 

 

   

 

 

4            Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2013       No.      , 2013 

(1) 

The Governor-General may make regulations amending Acts (other 

1 

than the Marriage Act 1961) being amendments that are consequential 

2 

on, or that otherwise relate to, the enactment of this Act. 

3 

(2) 

For the purposes of the Acts Publication Act 1905, amendments made 

4 

by regulations for the purposes of this item are to be treated as if they 

5 

had been made by an Act. 

6 

Note: 

Subitem (2) ensures that amendments can be incorporated into reprints of Acts. 

7