The Tasmanian Parliamentary Labor Party (PLP) has announced full support for legislation aimed at ensuring marriage equality for same-sex couples in the state.

 

Premier Lara Giddings said the State Government had resolved to see the reform introduced within the current term.

 

"The PLP was proud to support the principle of same-sex marriage in Parliament last year but it has been agreed that the time has come to act decisively on this issue,” Ms Giddings said.

 

Legal advice received by the State Government found no major blockages to pursuing the state-based reforms.

 

"It is my hope that the Commonwealth Parliament will also act on this issue in the not too distant future, noting that there is support for same-sex unions on all sides of Federal politics,” Ms Giddings said.

 

"There is strong evidence that legislating for same sex marriage will provide a significant economic boost and create jobs for Tasmanians.”

 

Currently, eleven countries now support same sex marriage, including Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa and Sweden, with a number of other countries introducing state based reform.

 

"But just as we have responded to other forms of discrimination throughout history, there comes a time when no amount of excuses should stand in the way of doing what is right,” Ms Giddings said.

 

"If Parliaments of the past did not have the courage to respond to changing community values then Tasmania would still be a state where homosexuality is illegal, where women don't have the vote and no apology has been made to the Aboriginal stolen generations.”