Australian Liberal Party member, Christopher Pyne, has slammed the non-recognition of gay marriages overseas, calling it “offensive” and “outdated".
The government frontbencher issued his statement following a recent case where a man who died in Adelaide during his honeymoon was denied recognition of his marriage to his husband.
British citizen, Marco Bulmer-Rizzi, whose husband David died after he fell down the stairs in a friend’s home, resulting in a cracked skull during their honeymoon earlier this month, was denied legal recognition of their marriage in the death certificate, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Same sex marriage, which is not recognized under Australian law, resulted in a null and void declaration in the death certificate, stating that the deceased, David Bulmer-Rizzi, was “never married.”
The surviving spouse, Marco Bulmer-Rizzi, appealed jointly to the UK and Australian governments to step in and intervene in what he called “outright discrimination” from Australian authorities.
In response to the incident, Pyne condemned the Australian government for its “anachronistic” treatment in not recognizing the Bulmer-Rizzi’s same-sex marriage.
Following the censure, South Australian Labor Prime Minister Jay Weatherill apologized to Marco Bulmer-Rizzi, Shafaqna said.
While Pyne has admitted to not having studied the issue at length, he is cognizant of the big picture and said the treatment of the Bulmer-Rizzis was offensive.
As UK’s most senior Liberal statesman, his comments on the incident have been seen as a catalyst to usher in changes to marriage laws in the country, particularly in South Australia where Weatherill is said to be seeking reform for same-sex unions.
Along with his apology, Weatherill has put forward his promise to issue the Bulmer-Rizzis a new death certificate as soon as reforms on same-sex marriage have been enacted, Newstral reported.
Pyne is one of the 33 Coalition party members who put their support behind marriage equality in Australia, moving for a conscience vote on the matter, which was defeated by 66 party members opposed to it.
