Same Sex Couples to Marry Free of Charge in Inner West Town Halls

Tuesday 26 September 2017

The inner west is opening its arms to marriage equality, with newly elected Mayor Darcy Byrne intending to invite same-sex couples to marry in Council’s beautiful heritage halls and community centres, free of charge, when marriage equality is legislated.

Councillor Byrne also signalled his intention to throw the Council's weight behind the Yes campaign for marriage equality at the Mayoral Election for Inner West Council held last night.

“We have one of the largest and proudest LGBTQI communities in Australia and the inner west must lead the national charge for civil rights,” said Councillor Byrne.

“We will strive to have the largest Yes vote of any community in the country and when it's the law of the land we should make our town halls available free of charge to couples who've been waiting to marry.

“On the day that this country finally accepts that love is love, I want couples to know that the Inner West will welcome them with open arms if they want to celebrate their marriage in our public facilities.

“I will ask that our newly elected Councillors formally endorse a recommendation that we make our facilities available for same-sex marriage celebrations, and that we actively invite and welcome couples wanting to use our halls.”

Councillor Byrne also encouraged people to contact the Australian Bureau of Statistics if they had not received their postal vote by Monday 25 September.

“This could go down to the wire and making sure every supporter of marriage equality in the inner west actually returns their survey could be the difference between winning and losing."