Marriage in Australia
As was the case for other western countries marriage in Australia for most of the 20th century was done early and near-universally, particularly in the period after World War II to the early 1970s. Marriage at a young age was most often associated with pregnancy prior to marriage.[1]
History
In colonial New South Wales marriage was often an arrangement of convenience. For female convicts marriage was a way of escaping incarceration and land leases were denied to those who were unmarried.[2]
The Marriage Act was passed in 1961 prior to which the states and territories administered marriage law.
The 1970s saw a significant rise in the divorce rate in Australia.[1] A change in social attitudes from divorce being only acceptable if there were severe problems towards divorce being acceptable if that is preference of the partners is attributed to this change.[3] By the 1980s the trend towards a delay of first marriage in Australia was evident. In 1989, more than one women in five had not married by the age of 30.[1]
Same sex marriage
Same-sex marriages are not permitted under Australian federal law. Same-sex couples have access to domestic partnership registries in New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. Civil partnerships are performed in the Australian Capital Territory.
The 2010 Australian marriage equality rallies occurred just prior to the 2010 Australian federal election in an effort to push the issue onto the political agenda. Australian Marriage Equality and Equal Love are lobbying groups who actively advocate for full marriage equality for same-sex couples.
See also
References
- ^ a b c McDonald, P. (1992). "The 1980s: Social and Economic Change Affecting Families". In Jagtenberg, Tom; D'Alton, Phillip (eds.). Four Dimensional Social Space. Pymble, Sydney: Harper Educational Publishers. pp. 126–128. ISBN 0063121271.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Edgar, Don (2012). Men Mateship Marriage. HarperCollins Australia. ISBN 0730496589. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ^ Halford, W. Kim (2011). Marriage and Relationship Education: What Works and How to Provide It. Guilford Press. p. 13. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
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External links
- Getting married - Government information
- Births, deaths and marriages registries - Government information