Australia: PM vows to block same-sex marriage legislation

Australia’s conservative prime minister today vowed to block any legislation by the nation’s capital giving gay couples the same rights as married couples.

Earlier this week, the Australian Capital Territory, which governs Australia’s capital city, Canberra, became the first Australian state or territory to introduce new laws effectively legalising same-sex unions.

But as a territory, the ACT is ultimately ruled by prime minister John Howard’s centre-right government, which has the power to overturn local laws.

“There is a special place in Australian society for marriage, the institution of marriage as historically understood, and we do not intend to allow that in any way to be undermined,” Howard said today.