Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017

The majority voted against amendments introduced by Greens Senator Janet Rice (Vic), which means they failed.

These amendments relate to several issues with the bill, particularly in terms of how it relates to anti-discrimination. For example, one of the amendments would "amend this legislation so that civil celebrants, including existing civil celebrants, would not be able to discriminate". Read more in Senator Rice's explanation of the amendments.

What does this bill do?

This bill will allow same-sex couples to marry under Australian law. However, it will also:

enable ministers of religion, religious marriage celebrants, chaplains and bodies established for religious purposes to refuse to solemnise or provide facilities, goods and services for marriages on religious grounds; and make amendments ... to provide that a refusal by a minister of religion, religious marriage celebrant or chaplain to solemnise marriage in prescribed circumstances does not constitute unlawful discrimination.

Read more in the bills digest.