Watered down same-sex laws pass in ACT

Laws granting same-sex couples legal recognition passed the ACT Legislative Assembly Thursday night, but the territory government is still furious it was forced to water down its legislation.

"This is not the outcome the ACT government wanted," Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said during the late night debate.

The government had wanted to recognise gay marriage through same-sex civil union ceremonies but abandoned the plan after the federal Labor government said it would veto the move.

"It is a matter of embarrassment to me that my party did not stand up for this fundamental principle," Mr Stanhope said.

But the government said the fact same-sex couples could now register their relationship was still an historic moment.

Attorney-General Simon Corbell said he was very proud the legislation was passed by the assembly.

"Gay and lesbian couples in the ACT will now be able to affirm their relationship before friends and families and gain legal recognition of their partnership," he said.

Legal legitimacy would give same-sex couples increased access to superannuation, taxation and social security law reforms that heterosexual couples took for granted, Mr Corbell said.

"Although we have been unable to provide gay and lesbian couples the opportunity to affirm their relationship in a legally-recognised public ceremony, this is a historic moment on the inevitable path towards removing discrimination."

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The ACT government has been forced to abandon plans to legally recognise same-sex civil union ceremonies after the Rudd government refused to support the move, upsetting the Australian Coalition for Equality.

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Opposing same-sex marriage is similar to supporting slavery or denying women the vote, a leading gay group says.

The ACT government has been forced to abandon plans to legally recognise same-sex civil union ceremonies after the Rudd government refused to support the move, upsetting the Australian Coalition for Equality.

"What's particularly disappointing is that the Rudd government refuses to give a proper explanation for its strident opposition to same-sex marriage except to say that traditionally marriage is between a man and a woman," spokesman Rodney Croome said.

"Well traditionally there was slavery and traditionally women didn't have the vote. But just because that was the tradition doesn't mean that change couldn't occur."

Mr Croome said slavery was abolished and women eventually achieved suffrage.

"Change did occur, we moved on from that," he said.

On Sunday, ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell condemned the federal government's stance, accusing it of resorting to "undemocratic nineteenth century colonial style power" to override legislation which had the clear support of the majority of the ACT Legislative Assembly.

But the Rudd government has received support from the Australian Christian Lobby.

Managing director Jim Wallace says the federal government is right to intervene for moral reasons.

"Marriage is between a man and a woman," Mr Wallace told ABC Radio.

"It's not for two per cent of the population to redefine a majority institution, particularly when it's so important an institution to a healthy society."