Australia votes to recognise same-sex unions
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Kevin Rudd won election on a platform supporting the legal definition of marriage as a between a man and a woman
SYDNEY — Australia's centre-left ruling party on Saturday voted for national recognition of same-sex unions but stopped short of lifting a ban on gay marriage.
The national Labor conference voted to develop a system for the registration and recognition of same-sex relationships, after gay rights advocates failed to gather enough numbers for a resolution to legalise gay marriage.
But frontbencher Anthony Albanese told delegates while it was not his "ideal position", the watered-down resolution was an important reflection of shifting public attitudes.
"History is moving forward on these issues," said Albanese, presenting the motion for vote.
"When I first proposed equality for same-sex couples in superannuation in 1997 that was a controversial issue. Today that is an issue of consensus."
"I believe that the issue of equality for all is something that is unstoppable," he added, prompting wild applause.