02-06-2013, 08:38 PM
Things are evidently different in the UK. There have been several parliamentary votes in Australia over the past ten years on this subject, both at state and federal level. Same sex couples are accorded the same rights as de facto heterosexual couples when it comes to social security, division of property, tax etc. In many states, including Queensland (where I live) there is recognition of civil partnership in a relationship register but no actual "marriage".
There is no "adultery" law in Australia. We have a "no fault" divorce system, so what goes on in and outside of a marriage is private and not the business of the courts. There is a mandatory 12 month separation period before filing, which may only be waived in extreme circumstances, eg. domestic violence.
I have read the Hansards of several parliamentary debates on this subject over several years and in Australia there has never been any mention of polygamy and certainly even the opponents have never suggested that gay marriage would lead to legalising incest or any such thing. Clearly we are not as complex as the British.
There is no "adultery" law in Australia. We have a "no fault" divorce system, so what goes on in and outside of a marriage is private and not the business of the courts. There is a mandatory 12 month separation period before filing, which may only be waived in extreme circumstances, eg. domestic violence.
I have read the Hansards of several parliamentary debates on this subject over several years and in Australia there has never been any mention of polygamy and certainly even the opponents have never suggested that gay marriage would lead to legalising incest or any such thing. Clearly we are not as complex as the British.
It could be worse