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High Court overturns ACT’s Marriage Equality act

High Court overturns ACT’s Marriage Equality act

The High Court has unanimously ruled that the ACT’s Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013 can not operate concurrently with the Federal Marriage Act 1961.

The judgement read: The Court held that the Federal Parliament has power under the Australian Constitution to legislate with respect to same-sex marriage, and that under the Constitution and Federal law as it now stands, whether same-sex marriage should be provided for by law is a matter for the Federal Parliament.

The ruling means that the 30 same-sex weddings that took place in the ACT over the weekend will not be valid.

Fifteen couples wed in the ACT on Saturday, the first day the Act took effect.

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