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| Australia high court overturns ACT gay marriage law | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Australia's High Court has overturned legislation allowing gay marriage in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). | Australia's High Court has overturned legislation allowing gay marriage in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). |
| The ACT parliament passed a bill in October making the territory the first part of Australia to legalise same-sex weddings. | The ACT parliament passed a bill in October making the territory the first part of Australia to legalise same-sex weddings. |
| But the national government challenged the decision, saying it was inconsistent with federal laws. | But the national government challenged the decision, saying it was inconsistent with federal laws. |
| Some 27 couples who married since the law came into effect last weekend will now have their unions declared invalid. | Some 27 couples who married since the law came into effect last weekend will now have their unions declared invalid. |
| The legislation had allowed gay couples to marry inside the ACT, which includes the Australian capital, Canberra - regardless of which state they live in. | The legislation had allowed gay couples to marry inside the ACT, which includes the Australian capital, Canberra - regardless of which state they live in. |
| Federal law, however, specified in 2004 that marriage was between a man and a woman. | Federal law, however, specified in 2004 that marriage was between a man and a woman. |
| The High Court in Canberra ruled unanimously against the ACT legislation on Thursday, saying that it could not stand alongside national-level laws. | The High Court in Canberra ruled unanimously against the ACT legislation on Thursday, saying that it could not stand alongside national-level laws. |
| "Whether same sex marriage should be provided for by law is a matter for the federal parliament," it said in a statement. | "Whether same sex marriage should be provided for by law is a matter for the federal parliament," it said in a statement. |
| Attorney-General George Brandis had previously warned that the local law would face a legal challenge, because it was inconsistent with the country's Marriage Act. | Attorney-General George Brandis had previously warned that the local law would face a legal challenge, because it was inconsistent with the country's Marriage Act. |
| Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who leads a Liberal-National coalition, opposes same-sex marriage. | Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who leads a Liberal-National coalition, opposes same-sex marriage. |
| Last year, a bill allowing same-sex marriage was voted down in both houses of Australia's national parliament. | Last year, a bill allowing same-sex marriage was voted down in both houses of Australia's national parliament. |