High Court throws out ACT's same-sex marriage laws

The High Court unanimously ruled that the ACT's laws were inconsistent with the Federal Marriage Act, and were therefore unconstitutional.

The ruling is a victory for the Commonwealth, which had launched the appeal against the laws. ABC

Abbott Government to challenge ACT's move to gay marriage

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott says his objection to the ACT's decision to legalise gay marriage is a "legal one", not a moral one. News

Abbott's gay sister is engaged

Totes awkward at family dinners.  News

Abbott Government: Week 4 in review

A relatively quiet second  half of the week as Abbott seeks to consolidate progress made on ruining Australia.

• In the wake of rortgate, Abbott rules out reform on MP expenses
• Tony and Mal Brough take home the silverware at the Ernies
• Clive Palmer thinks he has Abbott on the ropes, legislatively speaking
• Abbott speaks of his desire for three Free Trade Agreements in 12 months. And a pony.
• Scott Morrison takes a break from hoping people don't notice any boats to hoping people won't notice he paid back expenses.
• Soon afterwards the Coalition claimed GREAT SUCCESS as only one boat arrived this week.
• Scott also convinced some asylum seekers that the Coalition has made Australia so terrible, they went back where they came from.
• Everyone loves a good expenses scandal, even the Poms.
• George "I'm a QC you know" Brandis confirms the Government feels threatened by gay marriage and will challenge the ACT's prospective laws.

Brandis confirms challenge to ACT gay marriage

Attorney-General George Brandis described the territory laws on Thursday as ''a threat'' to the ''well-established position'' that marriage laws should be nationally consistent and were the domain of the Commonwealth.

Senator Brandis informed the ACT government of the legal challenge in a phone call on Wednesday night before confirming the move at a meeting of state and territory attorneys-general on Thursday.

Fairfax

Abbott Government: Week 1 in review

Things that happened in Abbott's Australia this week.

• Sophie Mirabella, a person so horrible even other Liberals dislike her, lost her seat.
• Julie Bishop taught us how to win friends and influence (brown) people
• Some people in Indonesia found this offensive.
• AusAID cut, aligned with Abbott diplomacy
• Eric Abetz takes on his new role as Minister for Cutting Public Services
• Eric starts by firing three senior public servants.
• Eric also goes after union thugs.
• Tony Abbott announces his manly cabinet...
• ...in which there is no place for science
• This turns out to be a bit embarrassing.
• But never mind, because Tony Abbott himself will be Minister for Women.
• They all brought their own Bibles to swear on.
• Half of the cabinet is Catholic.
• A general was promoted to three stars, so that he can stop the boats.
• Operation Sovereign Borders consists mostly of Scott Morrison keeping boat arrivals under wraps.
• Climate changed was stopped by abolishing any mention of it.
• No gays marrying in the ACT on Tony's watch.
• Let's keep things clean and fair, says Abbott. Several Liberals consider resigning
• Joe Hockey gets in a slapfight with Colin Barnett. 
• Tony has decided too much money is being spent on family law. 
• Some old white male people go for a bike ride with Tony.

Gay marriage in the ACT? Not on Tony's watch

Time to lawyer up

The ACT Government says same-sex couples will be able to get married in Canberra before the end of the year, with the introduction of the Marriage Equality Bill into the ACT Legislative Assembly.

But Mr Abbott wants to see the legal details. ABC