Well I’ve been single all my life and will probably die so, but surely its common knowledge that the government of whichever land has to get involved in private relationships between couples hetro and homo, because it involves property laws, taxation laws, social/death benefit laws and the rights of spouses and probably more that I haven’t thought of yet.

Tis the government after all that makes and enforces the laws of the land, appoints and maintains the judiciary and all the other things relevant to our orderly society under law that many others outside, look on with envy.

"Marriage adds absolutely nothing to any relationship. There are "millions of heterosexual and homosexual couples who see no point in getting married because it adds nothing to their relationship."

Rubbish- although more and more Australians are cohabiting for years before they marry (which in my books is a very responsible thing to do), the vast majority of people in de-facto relationships still go on to marry eventually.

That they now overwhelmingly choose to do so with civil celebrants quashes any religious arguments about same sex marriage.

What marriage adds to a relationship is a statement of intention- a statement about their hopes for their relationship to endure and last and that they want their friends and family and their community to understand and respect that intention.

In comparison the message that staying de-facto sends is "we're alright... for now".

"It is disappointing to many Australians that Julia Gillard believes only opposite-sex partners should be allowed to marry."

Why disappointing? Have you not noticed yet that Julia, despite being a pretty face and a good speaker that brings her temporary public support, is otherwise constrained by the same forces that drove earlier leaders to the same policies that most of us don't want and don't need?

The similarities between Julia and previously discarded leaders are more telling than the small differences. She continues to ally us with a dishonest, hypocritical, bullying, warmongering USA, involving us in unnecessary overseas wars that play their part in driving both the USA and its other allies into crippling debt. Julia also wants Australia to support Israel, a belligerant , nuclear armed, racist little country responsible for causing most of the world's troubles for decades. Despite having a huge backlog of matters that need to be put right (which is her job) Julia has already wasted a day attending the funeral of one of the Australian soldiers killed whilst doing his job. A day plus the drain on our tax dollars to pay for her luxury class transportation around the country to attend media opportunities like this. Her main (unstated) aim, as with leaders before her, is to get her own (labor) party or a similar (liberal) party elected at the next election, pretending that there can be no logical alternative choice.

Sorry you are disappointed, because with Gillard you are going to get more more more of the same same same! It's called stability in government, and they tell us we like it!

All Australians should have the same rights and protection. There should be equality under the law, but as long as same-sex couples are unable to get married, the law discriminates.

It is of nobody's business why people want to get married and everybody should be free to take or leave this, and any other service or arrangement no matter what their sexual orientation is.

This is not an article to discuss the pro's/con's of marriage- the point is that it is about time to give same-sex couples the exact same rights as heterosexual couples.

Same-sex couples have no adoption right, but perhaps this is about to change, at least in NSW:
"The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) welcomes the introduction of the Adoption Amendment (Same-Sex Couples) Bill which promotes the best interests of children living in same-sex families by proposing amendments to the NSW Adoption Act to allow same-sex couples eligibility to adopt."

Why make 1001 little amendments in the law, one by one. Why not bite the bullet and make one law for all.
So simple!

"Eighty per cent of gay and lesbian Australians believe they should have the choice to marry their same-sex partner. A majority would marry if they could."

If that is so why has there been such a poor response to Centrelink's Couples are Couples initiative? There are reports too that same sex coupes now feel they are being discriminated against through being treated the same as heterosexual couples.

http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/individuals/same_sex.htm

Best solution, move to Portugal!

Problem solved!