Download as a PDF file. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS: Recommendation 1:  That Section 47A as proposed in the exposure draft not be included. Recommendation 2:  CoCA proposes that if the parliament decides to provide exemptions for independent professional civil celebrants, such exemptions should only apply to: current authorised civil celebrants, not new civil celebrants, and require those who object on “religious or conscientious grounds”  to apply to the Commonwealth Marriage Registrar for an exemption in accordance with the legislation or re-assignment as an independent religious celebrant. Recommendation 3:  CoCA recommends that the definition of marriage in Part I—Preliminary, Section 5 Interpretation…

Submission to the Select Committee on the Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same Sex Marriage) Bill Committee Secretary Select Committee on the Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill Department of the Senate PO Box 6100 Canberra ACT 2600 Phone: 02 6277 3228 Fax: 02 6277 5829 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   Friday 13th January 2017 This submission is made on behalf of the Coalition of Celebrant Association (CoCA) Incorporated, established on 16 October 2008. CoCA is recognised by the Commonwealth Attorney-General as the peak representative body for all Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants. CoCA is comprised of 11 professional associations of…

Term of Reference (a) the nature and effect of proposed exemptions for ministers of religion, marriage celebrants and religious bodies and organisations, the extent to which those exemptions prevent encroachment upon religious freedoms, and the Commonwealth Government’s justification for the proposed exemption. Recommendation 1: That Section 47A as proposed in the exposure draft not be included. Rationale: The current Section 47 already grants all religious marriage celebrants the right to refuse to marry any couple and to add any additional requirements they so choose. Two thirds of all authorised marriage celebrants are covered by this existing exemption - Subdivision A…

Term of Reference (a) the nature and effect of proposed exemptions for ministers of religion, marriage celebrants and religious bodies and organisations, the extent to which those exemptions prevent encroachment upon religious freedoms, and the Commonwealth Government’s justification for the proposed exemptions Recommendation 2: CoCA proposes that if the parliament decides to provide exemptions for independent professional civil celebrants, such exemptions should only apply to: a. current authorised civil celebrants, not new civil celebrants, and b. require those who object on “religious or conscientious grounds” to apply to the Commonwealth Marriage Registrar for an exemption in accordance with the legislation…

Term of Reference (c) potential amendments to improve the effect of the bill and the likelihood of achieving the support of the Senate Recommendation 3: CoCA recommends that the definition of marriage in Part I—Preliminary, Section 5 Interpretation and all such associated references to marriage be amended to read: "marriage means the union of two adults to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.” Rationale The current definition “man and woman” implies an adult level of maturity for legal marriage even though the Act makes provisions for a person between the ages of 16 and 18 years…

Term of Reference (c) potential amendments to improve the effect of the bill and the likelihood of achieving the support of the Senate Recommendation 4: CoCA recommends that Subdivision C Marriage Celebrants be separated into two separate subdivisions – Subdivision C, Commonwealth civil celebrants and Subdivision D, Commonwealth Religious celebrants to enable the initial training and professional development of the two groups to be addressed separately. Rationale The Commonwealth is responsible for registration (based on designated training criteria) and professional development of the Subdivision C civil and religious celebrants. These requirements are stated in the Act and the Regulations. State…

Notes: The Act was established in the middle of the last century based upon British legislation pioneered in 1836. Unlike France where all couples must attend a registry office to legally marry, couples in the Australian community may choose from 4 types of marriage celebrants.·       Subdivision A - Religious celebrants from Recognised Religions (22,880* - 72.1%) ·       Subdivision B - Marriage Officers in State and Territory Registry Offices (293* - 0.9%) ·       Subdivision C - Independent Civil Marriage Celebrants (8040* - 25.3%) ·       Subdivision C - Independent Religious Marriage Celebrants (539*- 1.7%) Total of all = 31,752 All marriage celebrants…

CoCA Inc Position as regards Same Sex Marriage Position Statement to download pdfWhether Australia will move to change the definition of marriage to include same sex couples or not, CoCA Inc's position is that this decision remains with the Australian people and their government. If Marriage Act 1961 is to be changed, CoCA recommends Australia uses the opportunity to address Child and Forced Marriage concerns by ensuring Australia applies the same simple basic conditions in all marriage ceremonies (religious and civil) as recommended below. Upholding marriage as a relationship between two consenting adults can then form part of an educative…

Question  Answered: 1,491 Skipped: 2  Which class of marriage celebrant are you? Answer ChoicesResponses – an independent civil celebrant (under the Commonwealth MLCS regulation 97.52% 1,454 – an independent religious celebrant (under the Commonwealth MLCS regulation) 1.07% 16 – a BDM marriage officer or court officer 0.13% 2 – an authorised religious celebrant of a Recognised Religion 0.40% 6 – not a marriage celebrant 0.87% 13 Total 1,491   Question  Answered: 1,479 Skipped: 14   If same sex marriage became legal, which definition of marriage do you prefer? Answer ChoicesResponses – "Marriage means the union of two people to the exclusion…

CoCA prepared a submission to this Select Committee VIEW here OR DOWNLOAD: Submission as .pdf file and made a  presentation to the Select Committee on Marriage Equality Law  to the Committee's Hearing on Monday 23rd January 2017 in Melbourne. DOWNLOAD DRAFT HANSARD REPORT:  Select_Committee_on_the_Exposure_Draft_of_the_Marriage_Amendment-COCAa.pdf Photo (from left to right):  Mrs Dorothy Harrison CoCA Chair,  Senator Janet Rice, Mrs Liz Pforr CoCA Vice-Chair CoCA, Senator Louise Pratt and Mr Jamie Gardiner (Liberty Victoria). Select Committee on the 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…