Dear Sir/Madam Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill On 30 November 2016, the Senate resolved to establish the Select Committee on the Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill to inquire into the Commonwealth Government’s exposure draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill. I am writing to invite you to make a submission to this inquiry.  The Committee would like to receive submissions by Friday, 13 January 2017.  The committee may be able to facilitate a short extension to this deadline if you are unable to meet it, however it would appreciate that you provide an early…

Congratulations to our CoCA Chair Dorothy Harrison from Perth and Vice-Chair Liz Pforr Brisbane travelling to Melbourne to present to  today's Select Committee Hearing on theExposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill. CoCA represents over 8,500 Commonwealth Marriage Celebrants of whom approximately 8,000 are independent professional civil celebrants. Being practitioners in the profession, Liz and Dorothy were able to explain the complex nature of the Marriage Act as it applies to the marrying public.The CoCA submission was based upon its 2015 Survey on Same-Sex Marriage and related matters and can be found here Member associations can be found…

The Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017 (‘Dean Smith Bill’) was introduced into the Senate on 15 November 2017, it is currently being debated in the Senate.  The requirements set out in the curent Marriage Act 1961 remain in place until such time as an act of Parliament changes them. When can same-sex weddings occur in Australia? The date from which same-sex weddings could occur in Australia depends on the date the Australian law is changed to allow same-sex marriage. The current section 42 of the Act requires notice of the intended marriage to be given in writing a…

Below is the report from ABC newsHere's what's in the same-sex marriage bill and what's notThe Senate has voted for same-sex marriage, rejecting all calls to increase religious protections.Key points: Same-sex marriage laws pass the Senate without amendment Push to allow civil celebrants to refuse to marry same-sex marriage couples has failed Religious ministers will have the right to refuse marrying same-sex couples The legislation will go to the House of Representatives next week where it is expected to pass easily, making same-sex marriage law. There's been a lot of debate about what's in the legislation. Here's a quick guide.What's…

It is with saddened hearts the Coalition of Celebrants Association (CoCA) Inc wishes to inform all our colleagues in the celebrancy world that our AMC co-delegate, friend and colleague, Keith Lammond, passed on the 28th December 2017 after suffering a sudden and severe stroke on Christmas day.Our thoughts and condolences go out to his wife Rhonda and their families.