castellan and wannabe51 are having a great time with trump but what about some of the minority groups we've got over here. I know i'm opening a can of worms but as I remember marriage was between man and woman with the sole purpose of creating babies so how do same sex couples deliver the goods? I'm not against same sex union as I know a few couples who are happy with the way it is but why do the minority want "marriage". Is it for the sole purpose of getting the benefits from the government for married couples?

It's good to see a sensible non-confrontational discussion on this issue. It seems that you are automatically labelled a homophobe if you don't agree with the whole 'Yes' argument.

I'm with KBM. I'm fine with adults, same sex or otherwise, living how they want & I have no trouble with a civil union between same same sex couple with all of the same legal entitlements as a normal married couple. But, & it's a big but, I think that many people, especially older married couples have a big problem with the word 'marriage' being re-defined. Why can't they just call it a 'civil union' & be done with it. That wouldn't alienate so many of the population. This whole thing is so decisive in so many ways.

The other issue, that I have, is why are the 'Yes' campaigners so vehemently against a public vote on the subject, are they afraid it would fail ?

Dr Terry

What they the Socialist are trying to do is change the definition of the word Marriage and in that they will make it only become a partnership and it's not as simple as the Socialist are trying to make out, they are very cunning and devious in there intents, so much is hidden that they do not want to debate and shut any such down. much like Nazi and Communist tactics did to control a subject and only to get their way.

Once it's Law then we will see all the BS come out, the degenerate safe schools programs controlled by child molesters and f whits forcing there deviate moronic trash on our kids and no parent is allowed to have a say in any of it at all and if you take your kid out of the class you will go to jail and fined, as is done in one State in the USA now.

It's in all the detail that is hidden that is the biggest concern, not that gay's can't have a partnership because they can under the law now anyway.
This attempt is about the whims of around only 10% of the gay population in fact and that's all it is that want to get married, what's that not even 1% of our Nation not even half of that, the true reason is just Socialist attempting to push Political Correctness as a god over all of the people, it's the same shit as Hitler and the Communist did and that's to try to control the peoples thoughts and if anyone is out of line with what the leadership says they you then become an enemy of the State.

It's all about making everyone equal, so that the lowest denominator becomes a mechanism of control, it's Marxism making people nobody's, it's an attack on the family and just some shit kicker Sodomite thinks his rights are equal to a man who has family values is in fact being undermined.

Look I am sure that the yes vote will win regardless of what the no say, because the New World Order will force it on us because it's a Satanic Order, Satan is the one who leads the whole world astray, this mob will wipe out 90% of the worlds population and they have said so under the UN agenda 21 go look it up it's a fact.

It's not about gays at all, that's only a façade to the true attempt to control people with Political Correctness so as to work to destroy freedom of speech.
Freedom of Speech is under attack and once the PC Nazis control that, your up shit creek without a paddle, it's an attack on the fundamentals of a healthy Democracy, fact is that even Hitler's Nazi Germany was a Democracy but fundamentally unhealthy foundations of democracy.

I am a member of the Australian Conservatives Party and I have parents come to me saying that their children will not listen to them at all and go mental ranting and raving claiming that what the school push is a fact in all matters, parents are disregarded totally of any views that they have, and that's is the same crap that happened in Nazi Germany in fact. it's brainwashing crap bastardising our children and it will not be long and the kids will be dobbing in their parents for not being PC.
The younger generation themselves lack the capacity of truly in depth art of rational thinking and they only look to their stupid I phone for information, not to mention ignorant and rude little brats beyond belief, if you point out any position that does not line up with theirs they want to start a fight you.(just like the Nazi bastards did)
Oh well they will learn the hard way when the Nation turns into total shit hole garbage dump of degenerate bastards with no morals worth jack shit and certainly no fortitude at all in anyone.

What is it that makes married heterosexual couples so precious about the title "marriage" that they feel they're the only ones that can use that term?
You are not that special.
Whatever it is, get over it, everyone should have the same rights in our society.

Just because some people think something is historically right doesn't make it right, society has moved on from the dark ages.

If the survey results published to date are correct, it would make more than 1% of the population happy, maybe more like 60%

And you are correct, two people that want to share their lives together shouldn't be treated differently, let them marry like you or I can.

Marriage used to be a way of controlling women as property, gaining in-laws, making alliances and expanding the family labor force.

It really was not about the relationship between the couple.

It's only recently been transformed into a bond between equals with love and companionship.

This change in definition has paved the way for the debate we are now having, and probably the next stage of an evolving institution.

I'll say a few more things.

This IS NOT A RELIGOUS DEBATE (Australia wide I mean, not here). It has nothing to do with Allah, God, Jesus or earlier incarnations of these like Jehovah (or Jahweh/YHWH if you like), Ra, Jupiter, Zeus etc. just to name a few. It is about the basic right of anyone who is a citizen of this country to be treated equally. Homosexual couples are already treated equally by both taxation (ATO) and benefits (Centrelink).

I'll tell a little story. My wife and I were sitting on the courtyard in our first evening at Giraffe Manor this time last year (in Nairobi, Kenya (Google it, awesome place!)). We were feeding Giraffes, and talking to other guests. We were having a conversation with a guy from the USA. After about 10 minutes he said to both of us, looking us in the eye "you do realise I am gay?". I think I said something to my mrs gesturing to him, like "Captain obvious here", which he thought was awesome. He told my Mrs they'd be best friends if they lived nearby, he simply was not used to being accepted like he was by us, and also his partner who we then met. I was really looking forward to having a better chat with them at dinner that night, they were both well educated professionals. But they didn't come. I asked them the next morning: "where were you? Was looking forward to a few drinks and laughs". But as in their home country they always felt ostracized they had a private dinner.

To me the above is very sad. Think about it, do we really want to live in a country where anyone feels excluded be that by religion, race, colour or sexuality. That feeling of exclusion must be horrific. Yes sure, there are some lefties and right wingers out there who are in your face, but like the very right winged "radicals" those severe left "radicals" are also destroying the main message here. That everyone should be at least given the opportunity to be equal. If people choose to be not equal and live their own life it is their choice. But for those that simply want to be included, have the right to say "I do" and live as a married couple then who are any of us to deny them? Look back at the 60's if a white man wanted to marry a black women who he loved, and was frowned upon, shunned and told no. Imagine that was you for a minute? I know it might be hard to put yourself in a gay man or woman's shoes, but just think about it for a minute, how would you feel about being ostracized? Being treated differently, even strangers actually being surveyed about your life? It annoys me that we are even asked.

Your reaction to some comments here is totally justified, but free speech and all that...

To see these views posted brings home the fact that there are actually people out there with those beliefs !
Bit of an eye opener really, but we need reminding that that alternative reality exists.

Hang on back in the days of abo marriage to a Pommy say, was frowned upon ?
It was just common sense as the cultural differences were just so vast in reality and if you ever lived with the abos like me then you would truly know about all them problems first hand, how many such marriages survived and the kids who were left behind ?

Even my mum came from the other side of the world, was that good, no it was not good, it was a pain for all concerned and caused a lot of problems.

People nowadays sadly think themselves all knowing, not to mention so stuck up by looking down their nose at people in the past, one has to comprehend the times, dealing with such was not like it is today at all and it was not because of prejudice, it was because of reality and them people back in the days sure were dealing with reality because they had to, not like nowadays where people are or can be off with the pixies and nothing matters.

Not to mention that the Abos did not want other cultures bastardising there way of life, so they did not want such mixing and they had there way of picking the best people to have children, it was not up to who liked who at all as the elders picked who was best and other out siders were not welcome, not to mention that the half cast did not get along well with the true abo people and cause much troubles in the community's back in them days.

If we had a system like nowadays back in them days the nation would of fallen to pieces. not to mention the church had it's hands full as it was dealing with all such children as it was, so they did not look up to derelicts at all, who did not take Marriage seriously.

Thank you Sgo, well said.