The Australian High Court on Friday
announced that it would hear an expedited challenge to the nation's
first gay marriage law.
Last week, the Australian Capital
Territory (ACT) approved a law allowing gay and lesbian couples to
marry in the territory, which includes Canberra, the nation's
capital. The law is expected to take effect in early December.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott, whose
conservative Liberal-National coalition swept into power on September
7 on a pledge to lower taxes, filed a legal challenge to the law,
arguing that only the federal government has the power to regulate
marriage.
After a short hearing on Friday, Chief
Justice Robert French signaled that the case could be heard in early
December.
Abbott, who has repeatedly stated his
opposition to marriage equality, warned gay couples from marrying in
the ACT until after the High Court has ruled on the legislation's
validity.
“If as I think the ACT legislation
turns out to be invalid under the constitution, well then those
marriages wouldn't be valid,” Abbott
told 3AW. “So I'd suggest to people who would like to be
married under the ACT legislation – hold on 'til its validity is
tested.”
(Related: Gay
sister's engagement fails to move Australia's Tony Abbott on marriage
equality.)