The history of same - sex marriage in Australia includes its express prohibition by the Howard Government in 2004 and its eventual legalisation by the Parliament in December 2017. Although a same - sex marriage law was passed by the Australian Capital Territory in 2013, it was struck down by the High Court on the basis of inconsistency with federal law. The Court 's decision closed the possibility of concurrent state or territory laws that would allow same - sex marriage where federal law did not. A law legalising same - sex marriage passed the Parliament on 7 December 2017 and received royal assent the following day.
when did marriage equality became legal in australia
7 December 2017