2013: The Year that Was

2013 was a year of many highs and, regrettably, many lows. For some, 2013 was just a year. Just 365 ordinary days. For others, however, 2013 was more than that. For some it was 365 extraordinary days. A lot did happen in 2013. Australia had three Prime Ministers (Julia Gillard (27th PM), Kevin Rudd (26th and 28th PM), and Tony Abbott (29th PM)) which, when you think about it, was quite the achievement. 2013 also saw the creation of this blog, the Daily Lukey (in case you were blissfully unaware). New Zealand also allowed Same-Sex Marriage and the United States of America abolished a few of their own anti-gay laws. 2013 was a big year for the LGBQTI community. Aside from the setback and prosecution (now legal) in Russia 2013 saw many strides forward for equality and 2014 is sure to offer some more. I started a VCE subject as well as receiving a literary award early on in April/May. I was selected to be a part of a surely life-changing leadership program culminating in a trip to Kokoda this April which I am very excited and nervous about. However, 2013 did not end on such a high note for everyone. There was a typhoon in the Phillippines as well as other disasters and accidents all around the world that resulted in the loss of family members. 2013 was a mixed bag but all in all it was a great year.

2014 is set to be a good year (hopefully). See you tomorrow!

New Zealand Legalises Gay Marriage

New Zealand has became the 13th Country in the world, and the first country in the Asia-Pacific, to legalise same-sex marriage. The parliament voted 77 to 44 in favour of the Gay-Marriage bill and now same-sex couples can legally be married in New Zealand. This bill will also allow a same-sex couple to adopt and the couple will have their marriage recognised in other countries.

This is expected to put pressure on surrounding countries to follow in New Zealand's footsteps but Julia Gillard, the Prime Minister of Australia, has expressed her opposition to Marriage Equality and there is little federal movement in this area. So it looks like same-sex couples will be taking more trips to New Zealand to get married which will surely benefit their economy and tourism industry.

It is expected that this change will boost Tourism in New Zealand as well as the economy due to the new market opened up to spend money on Weddings. It was estimated that an extra $700 million dollars will be spent by same-sex couples on their weddings (in total, not individually) which will truly kick-start the New Zealand Economy. Many Australian Same-Sex Couples have also said that they would go on a trip to New Zealand to get married instead of waiting for a similar bill in Australia, which at the current rate could be a long way away. However, same-sex couples will have to wait around 4 months so that The Department of Internal Affairs (handling births, deaths and marriages) can be prepared for the surge of new paperwork.

I support Marriage Equality as I believe that Love is Love no matter who it is between and I believe some Same-Sex couples love each other more than some heterosexual couples and therefore deserve the right to marry who they want, where they want. So I think Australia should follow in New Zealand's footsteps and legalise Same-Sex Marriages.