[News.com.au] 'We won't budge on same-sex marriage'

THE Rudd government will consider the registration of gay and lesbian partnerships but will not budge on civil unions.
Advocates of same-sex marriage are holding rallies across the country to call for a change in Australian laws.

In Sydney, rally organisers expect possibly thousands of people to march from Town Hall to the ALP national conference at Darling Harbour, where they will demand that gay and lesbian couples be allowed to marry.

It is expected more than 60 couples will illegally wed outside the conference venue. Similar ceremonies are being held elsewhere.

The issue is due to be debated on the floor of the conference on Saturday morning.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland indicated the government was firm in its position.

"We are committed to marriage as being defined as between a man and a woman," Mr McClelland told reporters.

"The bottom line is that any outcome must recognise that marriage is between a man and a woman; that won't change.

"We have indicated we support a nationally consistent framework, consistent with Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT, and they don't support a civil union."

The ACT last year shelved plans to enshrine same-sex civil unions in law after pressure from the Rudd government.

Same-sex partnerships can be registered in the ACT but it is believed the Stanhope government is considering if there are ways it can go further.

In its draft national platform, the ALP says it "will take action to ensure the development of nationally consistent, state-based relationship recognition legislation".

But it notes the legislation will not "create schemes that mimic marriage or undermine existing laws that define marriage as being between a man and a woman".