Marriage equality advocates have welcomed support from the Tasmania Labor Party for a parliamentary motion in support of same-sex marriage. They say they will be disappointed if the Liberal Party doesn’t offer a conscience vote on the motion. Advocates will use a meeting tomorrow with the Premier, and today with the Liberal Party room, to outline the many economic benefits of same-sex marriage.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,
“We welcome Labor Party support for the marriage equality motion because if passed the motion will send a strong message to the Federal Government that it is time for equality across the nation”, Mr Croome.
“Tasmania’s politicians are saying to the rest of the country that marriage is about love, not discrimination.”
“They are also saying Tasmania has well and truly moved on from being the last Australian state to decriminalise homosexuality to being at the forefront of equality for same-sex couples.”
Australian Marriage Equality, National Convener, Alex Greenwich, is in Hobart to promote the economic benefits to Tasmania of allowing same-sex marriages.
“Should Tasmania be the first to move on Marriage Equality, it can also expect a windfall”, Mr Greenwich said.
“Today, Australian Marriage Equality released a study showing Tasmania is set to benefit by as much as $136 million if it is the first state to allow same-sex marriages.”
“The survey shows 87% of Australian same-sex partners would marry in Tasmania if it was the first state to allow same-sex marriages and that 60% would spend over $10,000 on their Tasmanian wedding and honeymoon.”
“Should the Federal Government not act and Tasmania goes it alone becoming the first state in Australia with same-sex marriage, it can expect to benefit from a massive economic windfall similar to US states which have pioneered on this issue.”
“For example, New York state is predicted to gain a $1 Billion injection from allowing same-sex marriages.”
“Small business will benefit from the wedding spend of same-sex couples from across the nation and on top of that Tasmania will benefit from an increase in immigration from the highly-skilled creative class”
“Marriage Equality costs nothing, benefits the economy, and creates jobs…what other piece of legislation would does that?”
A study into the economic impact of same-sex marriage on the Australian economy, suggested the economy would benefit by $742 Million Dollars (details here). This was based on the expected wedding spend, and cross-checked against the economic impact same-sex marriage has brought to parts of the USA, Argentina and Mexico City.
The economic benefits of marriage equality for Tasmania has also been explained by economic experts and those in the wedding industry:
“If Tasmania was the first state to allow same-sex couples to marry it would expand the number of couples marrying in Tasmania by several hundred percent. The impact would be spread across a wide and diverse range of small businesses from the obvious ones like celebrants, dress makers, florists and photographers through to accommodation, food and wine, gifts, advertising and travel. This is smart economics”
– Steve Mihalenko, editor, Bride Tasmania magazine, 0417 586 469
“There are economic benefits that would flow by having Tasmania at the top of queue on same-sex marriages. Look at the gains made by the California economy from being the first cab off the rank in recognising same-sex marriages as legitimate.”
– Dr Bruce Felmingham, reader in economics at the University of Tasmania (currently overseas)
For further information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668 or Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335
Background:
– Tasmania was the last state to decriminalise homosexuality in 1997
– it was the first state to allow same-sex civil unions in 2003 and the first to acknowledge overseas same-sex marriages in 2010
– the Federal Marriage Act was amended to ban same-sex marriages in 2004
– the Tasmanian Greens introduced state same-sex marriage laws in 2005, 2008 and 2011
– state laws will be re-introduced if the Federal Government fails to act