Celebrants and the Marriage Act 1961 issues
All persons who solemnise marriages in Australia must be authorised under the one Marriage Act. Marriage celebrants are in three categories in the Marriage Act 1961 under: Division 1—Subdivision A—Ministers of recognised religions Division 1—Subdivision B—State and Territory officers etc. Division 1—Subdivision C—Marriage celebrants - Independent civil and minority religious Over 70% of all marriage celebrants (23,001 marriage celebrants) from these 142 Recognised Religions below and (504 marriage celebrants) from 476 smaller religious groups are exempted under Section 45 of the Marriage Act from the couple giving consent in the ceremony, if this is not in the church rite.* Both…