By Terry Vanderheyden
CANBERRA, December 22, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Australia would not be following Britain’s lead by introducing a class of marriage for same-sex couples.
“I believe very strongly that marriage is exclusively a union for life of a man and a woman to the exclusion of others,” Howard said, as reported by the Australian Associated Press. “That’s the common understanding of marriage in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and I would be opposed to the recognition of civil unions.”
Australian lawmakers voted to amend the Marriage Act last year that enshrined the traditional definition of marriage as between a man and woman exclusively. Asked if he would support same-sex civil partnership legislation, Howard responded: “I would be opposed to it. I think marriage is for men and women. That’s why we amended the Marriage Act [in August 2004].”