Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm will this week introduce a revised Freedom to Marry Bill that would prevent people from being coerced by anti-discrimination law into providing goods or services for weddings, both same sex and opposite sex.
The legislation is designed to prevent the kinds of show trials we have seen overseas where cake suppliers have been hauled before the courts for refusing to sell products to same sex couples.
Senator Leyonhjelm says he hopes the Bill will help serve as a circuit-breaker for politicians who are worried about same sex marriage being used as a proxy to force business operators to act contrary to their conscience.
“It will be easier for conservative politicians to sell the legalisation of same sex marriage to their constituents if they can explain that nobody will be forced to do anything,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.
“I have always argued that voting for same sex marriage is not about approval, but removing the government from people’s private lives. Just as the government should not dictate the gender of who we can marry, it should also not allow others to impose their values. My Bill will ensure civil celebrants are in the same situation as religious celebrants in having no obligation to perform a marriage, and will exempt suppliers of wedding goods and services from the Sex Discrimination Act if they decline to deal with a marriage of which they do not approve.
“I am confident this approach will have greater appeal to the community than the coercive legislation supported by the Greens, which could see celebrants and businesses potentially in trouble. Our courts have far better things to do than adjudicating on weddings.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Contact Gavin Atkins at Senator Leyonhjelm’s office on 0448 164 844.
