Good news! Yesterday afternoon the Federal Senate soundly rejected Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young’s attempt to change the Marriage Act to include same-sex relationships.

Both the government and the Coalition opposed the Bill. The proposal lost 45 votes to five – this means 25 Senators did not vote. Only the five Greens Senators voted for the Bill – showing that they are more about radical social engineering than the environment.

The ‘Marriage Equality Bill’ was tabled by Hanson-Young last year and the Senate decided to send it to Committee. The Committee called for public submissions and a record number were received. Whilst there was considerable opposition a substantial number of submissions were supportive due to the growing activities and organisation of the homosexual lobby.

The Senate Committee rejected same-sex marriage but made two recommendations that we totally reject, including the formation of a national framework to rejecter same-sex and heterosexual relationships. and that the Australian government provide ‘certificates of non-impediment’ to homosexuals and lesbians wanting to get ‘married’ overseas.

The Senate report was tabled late last year and no response to it has yet been made.

By a ‘coincidence’ (really an amazing example of God’s timing) we are in Canberra this week. Jenny and I spent Wednesday personally visiting a number of MPs and Senators.

Yesterday we were part of a large delegation of Christians gathered at Parliament House to tell MPs and Senators that we fully support marriage between a man and a woman and that we totally oppose any recognition and registration of same-sex relationships including Relationship Registers, Civil Partnerships and same sex “marriage”.

Next week when we are back in the office we will send out a copy of the statement presented by the delegation and a list of the vote so you can write and thank Senators for standing against same-sex marriage.

Peter Stokes
Executive Officer
Salt Shakers
www.saltshakers.org.au