On 19 January 2017, the Law Council provided a submission to the Select Committee on the Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill. The Law Council noted that the current exclusion of same-sex couples from the Marriage Act denies them a right that is afforded to all other Australians and is inconsistent with the right to be free from discrimination.

The Law Council supported the protection of religious freedom and considered it reasonable to allow ministers of religion to conduct religious marriage ceremonies in accordance with the tenets and doctrines of their religion. However, the proposed exemptions for marriage celebrants, ‘conscientious belief’ or ‘religious bodies and organisations’ were not supported. You can also read the Law Council’s media release.