Same-sex marriage is legal in Australia, SSM bill signed in to law



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Australia Parliament

Australian Governor General Peter Cosgrove Friday signed the law to legalise same-sex marriage completing the legal process and formally changing the Marriage Act.

New same-sex weddings will not happen in Australia until the second week of January because same-sex couples will still need to lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage, which must be completed a month before the wedding, SBS reported.

The bill to legalise same-sex marriage passed the House of Representatives on Thursday with an overwhelming majority.

“It is a big Australian hug for all same-sex couples,” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told Channel Nine on Friday morning.

“We love and respect you. Now go out there and get married,” he said. Turnbull said that it is now part of Australian law.