Parliament must legislate for marriage equality in the next sitting period and not be diverted by complex debates to placate conservative MPs opposed to same sex marriage.
The Australian people voted resoundingly in favour of marriage equality and will not tolerate opponents now proposing complicated changes to Australian law as a means to drag out debate.
Labor has a history of supporting measures to more strongly incorporate into Australian law international human rights standards to which Australia has signed up, including those enshrined in the ICCPR.
Legislating for marriage equality is an important step forward in doing just that.
However, opening a new debate on the incorporation of other important human rights principles, such as freedom of religion, must not be used to confuse, and delay the passage of legislation to secure marriage equality.
The Senate report made it clear that complex issues or issues not fully canvassed in the committee inquiry be further explored but not delay a marriage bill.
Australians have voted for marriage equality, not further delay.
It is now time for Parliament to get on with it, remove discrimination from our Marriage Act and legislate for marriage equality.