Same-sex marriage bill passes Senate
The same-sex marriage bill has passed the senate with 43 votes in favour to 12 against.
The bill passed through the Australian Senate this afternoon to thunderous applause.
Liberal Dean Smith's private bill will now be sent to parliament's lower house where it will be debated next week.
In tears, Labor Senate leader Penny Wong said while every day it "was a privilege" to serve in the senate, there were "some days of great moment, which change our country for the better".
"This is that day," she said.
Attorney-General George Brandis told the senate he was "proud of Australian democracy, more proud than I have ever been".
"Today in this Senate and next week in the House of Representatives we will see this historic change accomplished," Attorney-General George Brandis said.
Liberal senator Eric Abetz said he hopes the lower house will now look "at seeking to alleviate the very real concern of nearly five million of our fellow Australians".
"They deserve to be heard," he said.
All proposed amendments, excluding technical tweaks, were voted down with moderate coalition MPs voting with Labor and the Greens to defeat the bulk of attempts by their conservative colleagues to change the bill.
More to come.
