[jackpsmithuk]

Hello,

Me and my partner are going on defacto, but we're wondering if the gay marriage bill passes - will we be able to do that? Get married and it be that easy?

Can anyone educate me further on this?

 

[wrussell]

At best you would have to wait until the relevant immigration regulations were changed.

 

[BAQ]

Peter Dutton (immigration minister aka potato head) must be furious about the same sex marriage bill which is about to be approved.He is a real homophobic. my partner and I are also waiting to get married and upload our certificate. and send a copy by mail to Peter Dutton

 

[michaels249]

Hello,

Me and my partner are going on defacto, but we're wondering if the gay marriage bill passes - will we be able to do that? Get married and it be that easy?

Can anyone educate me further on this?

Most definitely YES! The Marriage Bill will pass by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning (source: my own well informed judgement ... ok...). Although the legislation will immediately come into effect, I am not sure as of when you will be able to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage at your local Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages (just keep checking the website of the registry). It is predicted that the first same-sex marriages will take place in mid January 2018 (~15-01). The marriage process is easy and explained on the Registry's website.

For example, Registry of NSW website.

I am also waiting to get married to my Australian partner in February 2018

 

[ampk]

(source: senior government minister Christopher Pyne)

Never lied a day in his life!

 

[PurpleMonkeyDishwasher]

It *should* also open prospective marriage visas to same sex couples as well.

 

[Aussie83]

FYI being married doesn't make the process any easier or quicker.
best of luck.

 

[CollegeGirl]

FYI being married doesn't make the process any easier or quicker.
best of luck.

Well, in a way it does, since marriage waives the 12-month requirement defacto couples would otherwise be subjected to. So in states where registering a same-sex relationship isn't possible, this will definitely open up options and make things easier, and potentially make people eligible to apply earlier and speed things up that way (though clearly won't speed up processing, which I'm sure is what you meant!).

And the legal possibility of marriage will (as already mentioned) open up the Prospective Marriage Visa to same-sex couples, which definitely makes things easier as it gives same-sex couples a way to live together and collect evidence before applying for a partner visa.