Allowing civil marriage celebrants, government employees and businesses exemptions from same-sex marriage laws would uphold discrimination and homophobic attitudes, advocates for gay and lesbian Australians have told a parliamentary inquiry.
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Despite the government's proposed plebiscite being blocked in the Senate last year, a cross-party committee is considering possible amendments to the Marriage Act, with broad disagreement emerging from a range of religious and legal groups about who should be legally protected from denying services to same-sex couples.
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays told the committee religious ministers and clergy should not be compelled to marry any couple, but allowing civil and military celebrants to refuse same-sex couples would be discriminatory.
PFLAG spokeswoman Shelley Argent said no other minority groups would face similar discrimination and access to celebrants and wedding service providers in some parts of the country could already be limited.
"We strongly object to legislation permitting civil celebrants, military chaplains or any government employee having the right to refuse their services to same sex-attracted couples," Ms Argent said.
"Additionally, we do not support businesspeople who charge for wedding services being legally permitted to refuse service to our same sex-attracted sons and daughters because of the couples' sexual orientation."
Exemptions from same-sex marriage laws would also continue existing LGBTI-discrimination, lead to "religious privilege" and be insulting, humiliating and degrading to couples and their families preparing for marriages.
"Religious groups claim concern for the children," Ms Argent said.
"However, we need to recognise that children are being born regardless of religious beliefs. I believe if this is a genuine concern, but religious groups should be encouraging couples to marry in order to provide the children with emotional security."
Transgender Victoria executive director Sally Goldner said the organisation was overwhelmingly in favour of religious ministers and institutions having freedom of choice.
"We believe that for too long moralistic nanny-state attitudes have delayed marriage equality for Australian couples and stopped increases in freedom and equality for Australia overall, with damage to our reputation internationally," she said.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia told the inquiry the proposed exemptions "do not go far enough and impinge on religious freedoms".
"We are concerned that the bill does not provide any protection for our faithful who are not clergy and yet whose conscientious commitment to Orthodox Christian doctrine in relation to marriage will compel them to refuse to allow their facilities to be used for, or provide goods and services for, a same-sex marriage."
The Council of Progressive Rabbis and the Union for Progressive Judaism said it opposed all forms of discrimination.
"We hold that the bill under discussion will extend justice to people who are currently being discriminated against, and therefore it receives our support," the submission said.
Lobby group Family Voice Australia called for broad exemptions to protect religious freedom and conscience.
Submissions to the inquiry close on Friday.
Exemptions for religious ministers and wedding service providers including bakeries and photographers have proved controversial after the introduction of same-sex marriage overseas, including in the United States and Europe.
Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus called for the inquiry to help politicians "bridge party divides and find a way to prepare a marriage amendment bill that would have broad support across the Parliament."
"The select committee is a majority government committee with opposition and cross-bench representation," Mr Dreyfus said.
"That provides an opportunity for Senators to work together to recommend how a marriage amendment bill could remove discrimination while also protecting religious freedoms," he said.
