New Zealand proved overnight that big things come in small packages.
Off the back of the announcement that the small island country was the first in the Asia-Pacific to legalised same-sex marriage, there was a real sense of hope on the horizon, a feeling of good things to come.
“Thank you New Zealand. Tears fell down my boyfriend’s face. And he said “I get to marry you”. I can’t describe this feeling,” tweeted Sky News journalist Kim Baker Wilson.
New Zealand couldn’t have made it look any easier. It had been clear for a while that the bill was going to be passed last night and speculation was rightly so; it was approved with an overwhelming majority of 77 to 44.
What was so particularly joyous to see was the way in which the New Zealand Parliament reacted to the vote and final decision.
There was a standing ovation, an historic speech by Nationals MP Maurice Williamson and the sound of music in the form of traditional Maori love song Pokarekare Ana, which filled the public gallery.
It’s heartening to see such unity from a government and I wonder if Australia’s politicians should take a leaf out of our neighbour’s book.
After all, as one Twitter user noted last night, if we can steal Russell Crowe and pavlova from them, surely we can steal this too?
Both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott’s anti stance on same-marriage baffles me.
Polls, statistics and opinion consistently show the majority of Australians want same-sex marriage legalised in this country.
Even Twitter – a playground for the world’s worst internet trolls – was flooded with messages demanding that it was time for this country to make a stand.
Yet Gillard says she won’t be convinced by New Zealand’s decision and her mind will not be changed.
Asked why Australia lagged behind New Zealand in legalising gay marriage overnight, she simply said, “”I doubt we’re going to end up agreeing.”
Meanwhile, the Liberals reiterated their anti-stance by referring to an earlier interview with Abbott where he states that marriage is between ”a man and a woman”.
I wonder when our countries’ politicians will jump off of the prehistoric bandwagon and reinvent Australia’s wheel.
I wonder who will have the courage to end the playground politics and make a change that will redefine the nation.
As Australia’s first female Prime Minister, I had hoped Julia Gillard might have more empathy for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex community (GLBTQI).
In a surprising twist, our new hope lies in Malcom Turnbull, who has openly supported the idea of same-sex marriage.
But with every Australian politician trying to pass off the pink dollar, one can’t help but wonder when we’ll find the gold at the end of the rainbow?
Here’s to it being sooner, rather than later.
Author: Matt Young
Publication: news.com.au
Publication Date: April 18 2013