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Canberra: The Parliament of Australia today (7 December, 2017) passed legislation providing marriage equality in Australia.

This is being described as a truly historic moment which has been delivered by the Turnbull Government. the legislation on marriage equality was an election commitment to give all Australians an opportunity to have their say. With the passage of the legislation, the Turnbull Government has delivered on its promise.

The right to marry in Australia will no longer be determined by sex or gender. Marriage will now be defined in the Marriage Act 1961 as the ‘union of two people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life’. Same-sex couples now have the same rights under the Marriage Act as all other couples.

The historic reform will commence on Saturday 9 December 2017

As from Saturday, same-sex couples will be able to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage to commence the one month minimum notice period required before the solemnisation of marriages under the Marriage Act.

Under the new laws, ministers of religion and religious marriage celebrants will be able to act in accordance with their religious beliefs about marriage.

Religious bodies will be able to act in accordance with their doctrines, tenets and beliefs in providing facilities, goods and services in connection with marriage.

The forms and other information will be available following the proclamation of the bill at http://www.ag.gov.au/marriageforms and http://www.ag.gov.au/marriageequality.