When Labor leader Bill Shorten introduces a bill for marriage equality next week Christina and Harmonie Attwill will be watching.
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Despite having exchanged vows at their East Maitland home, the two women want to be legally wed.
“We still value our ceremony and marriage as meaningful regardless of the legality,” the couple said. “But we look forward to toasting a glass of wine to this change and possibly renewing our vows to meet the new standard of marriage laws in Australia.”
The move by Mr Shorten follows Ireland’s historic yes vote in favour of marriage equality in the socially conservative Republic of Ireland last weekend.
Along with his deputy Tanya Plibersek, Mr Shorten will introduce a bill on Monday to the House of Representatives to legalise same-sex marriage.
Maitland Liberal Party branch president and former executive officer of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Mitchell Price said while he welcomes the news, marriage equality is not a political game for any party.
“This is a very exciting move for Australia,” Mr Price said.
“But we need to take the party politics out of it and I think Bill Shorten has jumped the gun a bit. I think he needed to sit down and have a discussion with the Prime Minister to call the vote.
“But there is definitely a mood for change in the air and discussions need to be had. It will be interesting to see what prevails.”
Last year photographer Luke Gow launched a nation-wide photographic campaign designed to ignite the debate surrounding the legalisation of same sex marriage.
“Politicians state their job is to represent the feelings of those in their electorate and that their personal feelings on same sex marriage are irrelevant,” Mr Gow, of Lorn, said.
“My fear is that they are only hearing the voices of the most vocal in their constituency. Be it those that strongly oppose changes to the marriage act or those, like myself, that strongly support change.
“I think those that lie in the middle, the vast majority, the silent majority of people they represent, are saying get on with it already.
“I truly believe that marriage equality is inevitable. Love is love after all, and marriage the ultimate celebration of love. I think history will almost certainly ask why did it take so long?”
Along with Ireland, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, France and Spain are some of the 19 countries that have nationwide same-sex marriage. More than 35 US states have same-sex marriage including Utah.
