Succeeded where more than 20 previous attempts have failed, the Senate passed the bill to legalise Same Sex Marriage in Australia.  It will go to the lower House next week where a majority of MPs are expected to approve it.

"Today we stand on the cusp of a remarkable achievement and an historic event, and we pause briefly to reflect, just for a moment, on what we are a part of," said Labor Senator Penny Wong.  "We are part of an act of acceptance, an act of inclusion, an act of respect, an act of celebration - a day when this Senate declares our acceptance of our LGBTIQ brothers and sisters," she added.

Members of the Liberal-National coalition were joined by almost all Labor senators, the Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team, and Derryn Hinch to pass the bill by a 43-12 vote.  The law redefines marriage as the union of two "people" to the exclusion of all others, rather than the previous definition of a man and a woman; attempts to amend the bill to include a new definition in parallel with the traditional man-woman definition were defeated. 

Likewise, attempts to allow florists and bakers to discriminate against clients in same sex marriage ceremonies under the guise of "religious freedom" were also denied.  However, clergy and churches will be able to refuse to perform same sex marriages.