The South Australian Chapter of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law
is pleased to present
Dr Gabrielle Appleby, Adelaide Law School
Stephen McDonald, Hanson Chambers
speaking on
Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory
The High Court steps into the marriage equality debate
In December 2013, the High Court decided that same-sex marriage legislation enacted by the ACT Legislative Assembly was inconsistent with the federal Marriage Act, and therefore inoperative. In the course of answering the question of inconsistency, the High Court held that the Commonwealth Parliament’s power to make laws with respect to marriage extended to laws providing for same-sex marriage. The decision puts to bed one of the arguments that has been advanced by those opposed to the enactment of Commonwealth legislation that would enable same-sex marriage. This seminar examines the decision and its political implications at both the federal and State level.
Date: 28 March 2014
Time: 1-2pm
Venue: Pilgrim Hall, 12 Flinders Street
RSVP: 24 March 2014 to Sarah Mitchell: mitchell.sarah@agd.sa.gov.au
Members and non-members welcome.
Attendance at this seminar may be recognised for MCPD purposes.