Even our elite athletes are interested in today's debate. Well, Brumbies star and social campaigner David Pocock is.
Exciting day for #MarriageEquality in the ACT with the 'Marriage Equality Same-Sex Bill' set to be passed in the Legislative Assembly.
— David Pocock (@pocockdavid) October 21, 2013
Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury, who is a minister in the ACT Government, is now speaking in support of the bill.
He is being watched from the gallery by federal Greens Leader Christine Milne.
Mr Hanson questioned whether amendments to be moved by Attorney-General Simon Corbell would ensure the bill was constitutional.
"It is a leap of faith now to accept Simon Corbell's assurances that the amendments will make this bill lawful when he's spent the last few weeks arguing against the ned for any such amendments.
"The Canberra Liberals have a different view about the role of the ACT Legislative Assembly to the Labor Party and the Greens.
"We do not see the ACT Assembly as a vehicle to drive national agendas or social agendas, whereas the Labor Party and the Greens do. We are labor's smallest parliament in a small jurisdiction and we do not think a majority of one person in the ACT should change the definition of marriage for a country of over 23 million people.''
We're getting our first photos through of the viewing room - looks like there are plenty of people there.
Canberrans gather at the ACT Legislative assembly for the beginning of the same sex marriage bill debate. Photo: Rohan Thomson
Mr Hanson is quoting legal advice that the ACT bill is likely to be overturned by the High Court.
"This is not a responsible thing for the Assembly to be doing.''
He also says the bill "is a bandwagon hurtling towards a cliff.''
Mr Hanson is also quoting from marriage equality supporters who are concerned that the bill needs further amendments to strengthen the chances the High Court will declare it to be constitutional.
Liberal Leader Jeremy Hanson has now begun speaking on the bill.
"We believe that this issue belongs in the Commonwealth Parliament,'' Mr Hanson said.
"It is a federal issue and there are a wide-range of sound legal opinions that support that position.''
Liberal Leader Jeremy Hanson. Photo: Rohan Thomson
Green Shane Rattenbury is one of the MLAs backing the bill. Looks like he's excited to get underway.
Let the debate begin !
— Shane Rattenbury (@ShaneRattenbury) October 21, 2013
The marriage equality bill was introduced into the Assembly by Labor Attorney-General Simon Corbell on the 16th of September.
Labor officially has a conscience vote on the issue, but all eight ALP members plan to vote for the bill.
Greens minister Shane Rattenbury also supports it.
The eight Liberal MLAs are expected to vote against the bill, although their are different views within the opposition partyroom about gay marriage. The Liberals argue that marriage laws are a matter for the Federal Parliament and should not be debated in the Assembly.
Assembly Reporter Lisa Cox reports the gallery is already filling up. Looks like it's going to be a busy day at the Legislative Assembly.
Same-sex marriage debate soon to begin in ACT Legislative Assembly. The public gallery is already packed with supporters #actpol
— Lisa Cox (@_LisaMCox) October 21, 2013
Lisa Cox: We just spoke to Andrew and Shane from Gympie in Queensland who are at the Assembly to watch the debate.
Andrew says, "We were touring around on holiday and we saw this was happening on the Facebook feed.
"It's out last day in Canberra, we've six hours before out plane heads out so we thought we would watch what happens.''
The couple, together for four years said, "It's a step in the right direction.''
"But it's like an onion,'' Andrew said. "There will be more layers to this.''
Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the marriage equality bill in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The 17-member Assembly is expected to pass during the next few hours, making the ACT the first Australian jurisdiction to permit same-sex marriage.
We’ll be providing gavel-to-gavel coverage.
The federal government believes the bill is unconstitutional and is planning to challenge it in the High Court of Australia.
But that hasn’t dampened the spirits of same-sex marriage supporters who have been lining up to get seats in the public gallery. Those who can’t find seats in the gallery will watch proceedings on a big screen in a function room, which has been decked out to resemble a wedding reception.
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