Celebration over Australia's first legally binding civil union ceremony - held in Canberra yesterday - could be short-lived, as Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has promised to overturn the legislation which made it possible.
The Legislative Assembly passed a Greens bill earlier this month allowing gay couples in the Australian Capital Territory to recognise their relationship with a legal ceremony, reports ABC News.
Warren McGaw and Chris Rumble - who have been together for nearly 20 years - celebrated their civil partnership at the Old Parliament House rose gardens.
"We thought we'd take this opportunity not only for gay couples Australia wide ... but just for human rights," said McGraw of the union.
But the Federal Government has the power to veto the ACT's legislation, and has signalled it will do so, angering marriage equality activists.
"What this shows is that the Rudd Government is opposed to all forms of relationship recognition for same-sex couples," says Australian Marriage Equality spokesperson Alex Greenwich.
Protest rallies across Australia are planned this Saturday to mark the beginning of a 'National Year of Action for Same-Sex Marriage'.
