Tony Abbott’s federal government has challenged Australian Capital Territory’s attempt to pass a law that had made gay marriage legal in the ACT from Saturday. 

While gay marriage bills have been twice turned down by parliament, and PM Abbott makes no qualms about his opposition to anything other than the marriage between a man and a woman. 

If the High Court doesn’t uphold the challenge, it’s believed the Federal Parliament could overturn the ACT’s legislation, opening a whole other can of worms in the ever-present debate about the power of the states. 

“This is the first time that we have been able to demonstrate that the sky will not cave in,” director of Australia Mariage Equality Rodney Croome said at his own marriage to husband Chris Teoh. 

Gay marriage is legal in 18 countries, including 16 states in the US. 

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