Australia Blocks Gay Civil-Unions

CANBERRA, Australia -- The Australian federal government, under leadership of conservative Prime Minister John Howard, invoked special powers this morning to invalidate a territorial law that allowed for gay unions in Canberra.

Last month Canberra became the first of Australia's six states and two territories to legally recognize gay and lesbian relationships. Under the new territorial law, same-sex couples would have be given the same rights and benefits granted to married couples.

Prime Minister John Howard's right-leaning coalition introduced an amendment in 2004, defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. According to spokesmen for the coalition, the territorial law was effectively legalizing same-sex marriage and therefore had to be stopped.

Attorney General Philip Ruddock said the federal government had used its power over territories to invalidate the law.

"The ACT (Australian Capital Territory) civil relationships ordinance has been disallowed," Mr Ruddock told reporters in Canberra. "Legislative amendments introduced to establish a civil arrangement for same-sex parties and others in the ACT will no longer be law."