Malcolm Turnbull and George Brandis (left & center), The Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove (right).
Picture: Kym Smith.
Sir Peter Cosgrove gave the new marriage equality laws Royal Assent this morning when he was visited by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Attorney-General George Brandis in Canberra.
The updated Notice of Intended Marriage is now available online and same-sex couples will be able to lodge formal intentions to wed from tomorrow, Saturday 9 November, allowing them to marry from January 9, 2018.
The form includes new categories Partner 1 and Partner 2 (replacing Bridegroom and Bride), a “Description of Party” section offering three options: groom, bride and partner, and now three categories for gender, male, female”and “x” (which is described as “indeterminate, intersex or unspecified”).
“It is now part of Australian law,” an elated Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said after he and Attorney-General George Brandis visited the Governor-General. “It tells all same-sex couples we love and respect you, now go out there and get married,” he said.
The Prime Minister described the legalisation of same-sex marriage as “one of the most remarkable moments in our history,” and told Channel Seven’s Sunrise program this morning that he was the first Australian prime minister to commit to ensuring gay couples could marry.
One of those quick to make the most of the law change is Australia’s ambassador to France, Brendan Berne, who posted a video on the embassy’s Facebook page of his proposal to his partner, Thomas Marti.
“As ambassador to France, this is a great day for my country Australia which has passed marriage for all. But also for me personally. Now, as Australia has just approved marriage equality, it is my turn to confirm my relationship with my partner of 11 years, Thomas,” he said in heavily-accented French on a balcony at the Australian Embassy in Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
After moving into Marti’s office, he says “I’d like to ask you a question. Would you please marry me?” In response Thomas gets up from his swivel chair for a long embrace with his new fiance.