The Equality Campaign has welcomed the decision by the Noosa Shire Council to support marriage equality.

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The Noosa Council motion called on “the Federal Parliament to treat with dignity and respect all member of the community regardless of gender or sexuality by supporting changes to the Marriage Act to achieve marriage equality for same sex couples”.

The council on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast joins a growing number of local government bodies calling on the federal government to take action on marriage equality.

Earlier this year Western Australian councils in Fremantle and Bayswater passed similar motions.

The Equality Campaign’s  Queensland Coordinator Peter Black welcome the council’s decision.

“Marriage equality is a simple issue of fairness and being treated equally under the law. Gay and Lesbian Australians should be able to have the same opportunities for love, commitment and happiness as everyone else.

“It is great to have the ongoing support of the Council because we must work together to ensure every Australian has the same opportunities in the land of the fair go and for every person in this region.

Black said the Equality campaign had found local residents were giving calls for nation’s marriage laws to be changed overwhelming support.

“The Equality Campaign has been travelling across the Sunshine Coast talking about why marriage equality matters. The support has been overwhelming because at the end of the day people recognise that marriage equality is about our friends, families, colleagues and teammates who just want the same dignity and respect,” Black said.

Local marriage equality advocate and the Noosa Representative on the Sunshine Coast Pride Network, Robin Bristow thanked the councilors who voiced support for the motion.

“It’s not often that a Council can profoundly affect the lives of its residents with just a few words.

“The Sunshine Coast Pride network has been lobbying Noosa Council for over two years now to finally achieve this result and we wish to acknowledge Cr Jess Glasgow, Cr Ingrid Jackson and Cr Brian Stockwell for their support,” Bristow said.

Tiernan Brady, the Executive Director of the campaign said there was a clear message to federal MPs.

“Our message is clear to all Federal MP’s, it’s time to do your job and introduce marriage equality in line with the clear wishes and values of the Australian people and we won’t give up until they do, ” Brady said.

“Marriage Equality is a straightforward reform that takes from no one but will have a profound positive impact on LGBTI people and their families and friends.

“This can be a unifying moment for Australia where civil marriage equality can be delivered by the parliament, affording every Australian the same dignity and respect,” Brady concluded.