www.awnw.com.au
Issue #260 – Wednesday, 26 November, 2014
Albury Wodonga’s largest circulating newspaper
Giving up the grog Almost a year ago, Megan Gogoll decided it was time to break a bad habit. Sick of binge drinking and booze, she put down the alcohol and hasn’t touched it since. SEE HER REASONS BEHIND THE CHANGE AND THE DIFFERENCE IT HAS MADE IN HER LIFE ON PAGE 4.
City’s equality vow By ERIN SOMERVILLE A ROUND of applause, cheers, and tears of joy met AlburyCity’s decision to support same-sex marriage at Monday night’s council meeting. The meeting was strongly attended by members of the public, including a large showing of support for the motion from the region’s LGBT community and religious sectors. Australian Marriage Equality deputy director Ivan Hinton-Teoh had also made a day trip from Canberra on Monday specifically to attend the council meeting. While council’s move may only have been a symbolic gesture and will carry no legislative weight, for many local residents the show of support is enough for the time being. “It demonstrates the fact that we have the community support and it’s what we want to be achieved by our federal member,” said Greg Turner, who was forced to wed his partner, who had been battling cancer, at Canberra’s British High Commission in September for his marriage to be legally recognised. “If they are able to achieve this in a stable conservative regional area there is hope.” Councillors voted to suspend standard orders to openly debate the notice of motion that was put forward by Cr Ross Jackson. Working through two minor blackouts as a storm raged outside, council moved to support marriage equality in Australia, five votes to four. Councillors Alice Glachan, Graham Docksey, and Patricia Gould opposed the motion, arguing that it was not a local government matter, while Cr Hank van de Ven stated that he did not agree with the term ‘marriage’. “I believe the word marriage has traditional connotations between a man and a woman,” he said. “Call it anything else, a commitment or partnership, but marriage
Members of the community cheered as AlburyCity supported marriage Photos: ERIN SOMERVILLE equality in Australia. 131416 should be reserved for traditional partnerships. “I think it devalues people who have made the commitment to the traditional marriage we have known and understood for a long time.” Cr Darren Cameron, an endorsed ALP councillor, dismissed opposing councillors’ arguments that the issue should be left to federal politicians, claiming the Member for Farrer had already been presented with an Australian Marriage Equality endorsed poll that showed 86 per cent of the electorate’s residents supported marriage equality. “We are the closest representatives of the community in the three tiers of government,” he said. “If Sussan Ley had the ability and
integrity to take up the issue herself then this situation would not be arising now.” Member for Farrer Sussan Ley welcomed council’s move to support marriage equality, but defended herself against Cr Cameron’s remark. “I have said many times my door is open to discuss this issue and Cr Cameron is welcome to make contact with me to express his views,” she said. “Should this happen, I can also fill him in on the misleading poll figures he seems to have chosen as the basis for his public comments.” Ms Ley went on to say she was an advocate for equality and fairness, and would consider all views if required to vote on the issue. “Whether this means we also need
Mark Green, Joel Krautz and Meghan Hall happy to be living in a city that supports marriage equality. Albury Council will now write to state and federal members signalling its support for marriage equality. Albury joins other NSW and Victorian councils in publicly supporting marriage equality, including Geelong, Moreland, Tenterfield and Glen Eira.
to legalise same sex marriage will only be tested if legislation comes back before the Federal Parliament,” she said. “Should that occur, I will of course consider and canvass the overall views of our electorate, including the motion passed last night.”
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