UPDATE: Same-sex conscience vote
The ACT Greens will call tomorrow on their ALP colleagues to vote against national Labor policy and support equal marriage rights at a federal level.
The party will ask the Legislative Assembly to back its call for the Federal Government to overturn discriminatory marriage laws.
It comes two weeks out from Labor's national conference, which is expected to be dominated by debates about amendments to the Marriage Act to introduce equal marriage rights.
''The time has come for federal politicians to amend the Marriage Act to give all loving couples the chance to marry, regardless of sexuality,'' ACT Greens Speaker Shane Rattenbury said.
''Creating equal marriage would remove discrimination from the law and help Australia to foster greater acceptance of all couples in committed relationships, regardless of sexuality.''
The motion essentially asks the ACT's Labor politicians to vote against national ALP policy, which opposes same-sex marriage and supports the Marriage Act definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
It follows a similar motion that passed the Tasmanian Lower House in September.
Mr Rattenbury said he expected Greens in other states to introduce similar motions before the ALP national conference next month.
But the ACT branch has already signalled its strong support for equal marriage rights.
In June, ACT delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of equal marriage rights for adult Australians, with about 90 per cent of delegates supporting the resolution.
Across the country, NSW Labor is the only state or territory branch that has not voted in support of equal marriage rights.
Deputy Chief Minister and Rainbow Labor spokesman Andrew Barr said yesterday caucus would discuss its position on the motion this afternoon, but the party would probably support the Greens' motion despite it contrasting with federal policy.
''Given the position of the ACT branch and given the Tasmanian branch voted in support of it, I think we would be able to do so.
''But the issue has to be dealt with nationally; we're not interested in a myriad of different approaches.''
Mr Barr added, ''I would be very surprised if we do not support it, and whoever moves it is immaterial. It can't hurt, but I think the votes of the Labor Party branches are more important for national conference.''
Last week it was revealed the Left would push the conference to adopt the policy of equal marriage outright, rather than accept a conscience vote on the issue. But the party's gay marriage proponents are now debating the best way to achieve that at the conference.
Rainbow Labor has issued its proposed amendments to Labor's national policy platform, for which it is seeking support from the Left and the Right.
Rainbow Labor will push the conference to adopt changes that would have the Marriage Act amended ''to ensure equal access to marriage under statute for all adult couples irrespective of sex''.
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