Gay marriage: Mutiny on the Bounty islanders blaze a new trail to boost tourism

Norfolk Island plans to legalise same-sex marriage – and boost its ailing tourism industry

Norfolk Island plans to legalise same-sex marriage (Getty Images)

Since Norfolk Island was settled by descendants of the Bounty mutineers, the South Pacific territory has always gone its own way. Now, in defiance of the Australian government, it plans to legalise same-sex marriage – and also, it hopes, boost its ailing tourism industry.

Among those hoping that a private member’s bill introduced in the island’s tiny parliament yesterday will succeed is Cam Christian.

Mr Christian, who is gay, is a descendant of Fletcher Christian, who led the mutiny against Captain William Bligh before fleeing to the uninhabited island of Pitcairn with his fellow mutineers and some Tahitian women. Cam Christian is hoping to marry his partner, Paul, on Norfolk, a self-governing Australian external territory.

“When we got engaged, we planned to have a commitment ceremony on the island, but the chance to be married in front of family and friends is just so important and affirming for us,” said Mr Christian, who grew up on the island but now lives in Brisbane.

Despite a lengthy campaign by gay-rights advocates and Australia becoming increasingly isolated in its stance – even the conservative government in New Zealand has changed the law – federal governments of different political persuasions have steadfastly refused to legalise same-sex marriage.

Other jurisdictions, such as the Australian Capital Territory, which covers the Canberra area, have tried to blaze a trail, but have been overruled by federal government challenges in the High Court.

That could happen to Norfolk, too, if its nine-member Legislative Assembly passes the bill introduced by Hayden Evans. In an effort to protect it from being sabotaged, constitutional experts have tried to draft it in such a way that it does not impinge on the Federal Marriage Act.

The Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, is opposed to same-sex marriage, although his sister, Christine Forster, a Sydney councillor who is engaged to her partner, Virginia Edwards, has urged him to allow his MPs a free vote the next time the issue comes up.

Andre Nobbs, a former Norfolk Chief Minister who supports the bill, said that it would boost tourism.