The Australian Senate has approved a bill that would extend marriage rights to same-sex couples.
Lawmakers approved the measure by a 43-12 vote margin. The Australian House of Representatives will now consider the bill.
The vote took place less than a month after the Australian Bureau of Statistics announced the majority of voters who took part in a non-binding plebiscite on whether same-sex couples should be able to legally marry in the country said “yes.” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged lawmakers to pass the marriage bill by Christmas.
“Next week it heads to the House of Representatives,” said the Equality Campaign, a group that supports the marriage bill, on its Twitter page. “It’s time for our MPs to get this done.”
BREAKING: Australian Senate has passed the #MarriageEquality bill by 43 votes to 12! This is historic — and it’s because of you. We did this together!
Next week it heads to the House of Representatives. It’s time for our MPs to get this done. pic.twitter.com/5mFJlZPktw
— AU Marriage Equality (@AMEquality) November 29, 2017
