http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/marriage/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/cruel-treatment-of-marriage-refugees-to-end/ On February 1 the Federal Government will lift its ban on Australian same-sex partners receiving the documents they need to marry in other countries where same-sex marriage is allowed. To her great credit, Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon, has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to start issuing certificates of no-impediment to marriage (CNIs) to same-sex couples marrying overseas on the same basis as they are now issued to heterosexual couples. A CNI is required by many foreign governments as proof the foreigner who wants to marry in their country is of marriageable age and isn’t already married where they come from.  feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/cruel-treatment-of-marriage-refugees-to-end/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/cruel-treatment-of-marriage-refugees-to-end/#item7626 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 As is the rite of passage for all conservative politicians, Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich has found himself embroiled in a sex scandal. Wife number two claims Newt asked for an “open marriage”. She, shockingly enough, now considers him too much of a jerk for office. In even more yawn-worthy news, fellow hopeful, Rick Santorum, has pounced on naughty Newt and determined that those extramarital hijinks raise questions about moral character. Moral character. You know, the most fundamental of leadership qualities. Because, you might be the smartest, the wisest, the most hard-working of all politicians, but one sexual snafu and it can all end in a finger-snap. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sex-scandals-should-not-render-a-leader-impotent/ As is the rite of passage for all conservative politicians, Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich has found himself embroiled in a sex scandal. Wife number two claims Newt asked for an “open marriage”. She, shockingly enough, now considers him too much of a jerk for office. In even more yawn-worthy news, fellow hopeful, Rick Santorum, has pounced on naughty Newt and determined that those extramarital hijinks raise questions about moral character. Moral character. You know, the most fundamental of leadership qualities. Because, you might be the smartest, the wisest, the most hard-working of all politicians, but one sexual snafu and it can all end in a finger-snap. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sex-scandals-should-not-render-a-leader-impotent/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sex-scandals-should-not-render-a-leader-impotent/#item7594 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 As is the rite of passage for all conservative politicians, Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich has found himself embroiled in a sex scandal. Wife number two claims Newt asked for an “open marriage”. She, shockingly enough, now considers him too much of a jerk for office. In even more yawn-worthy news, fellow hopeful, Rick Santorum, has pounced on naughty Newt and determined that those extramarital hijinks raise questions about moral character. Moral character. You know, the most fundamental of leadership qualities. Because, you might be the smartest, the wisest, the most hard-working of all politicians, but one sexual snafu and it can all end in a finger-snap. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Marriage-is-like-undies-its-all-about-strong-bonds/ Imagine if marriage were like a passport or a driver’s license; every five or 10 years, you have to fill in paperwork to renew it, or you can choose to walk away, no questions asked. This ingenious idea was raised at my book-club meeting, although it bore no relevance to the novel we were discussing. “Marriages wouldn’t slide into such a state of disrepair if you had to recommit to them once a decade,” said a friend in a diversionary tactic (like me, she hadn’t finished the book). feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Marriage-is-like-undies-its-all-about-strong-bonds/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Marriage-is-like-undies-its-all-about-strong-bonds/#item7573 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 As is the rite of passage for all conservative politicians, Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich has found himself embroiled in a sex scandal. Wife number two claims Newt asked for an “open marriage”. She, shockingly enough, now considers him too much of a jerk for office. In even more yawn-worthy news, fellow hopeful, Rick Santorum, has pounced on naughty Newt and determined that those extramarital hijinks raise questions about moral character. Moral character. You know, the most fundamental of leadership qualities. Because, you might be the smartest, the wisest, the most hard-working of all politicians, but one sexual snafu and it can all end in a finger-snap. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/friday-dilemma-do-brides-get-to-be-dictators/ Welcome to our regular Friday moral dilemma. This week: How much power do brides have over their bridesmaids? Is it OK to boot someone out of the wedding party because they rudely got preggo? We all know the Bridezilla stereotype… and that it exists because there really are women who turn into heavy-breathing tantrum-throwing monsters in the lead up to the happiest day of their lives. Brides obviously deserve some sort of say. The good Christian bride might say ‘no’ to her sister’s Antichrist-themed ra-ra skirt, for example. There may be a colour theme, or the bride could be afraid of the colour purple. These things happen. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/friday-dilemma-do-brides-get-to-be-dictators/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/friday-dilemma-do-brides-get-to-be-dictators/#item7486 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 As is the rite of passage for all conservative politicians, Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich has found himself embroiled in a sex scandal. Wife number two claims Newt asked for an “open marriage”. She, shockingly enough, now considers him too much of a jerk for office. In even more yawn-worthy news, fellow hopeful, Rick Santorum, has pounced on naughty Newt and determined that those extramarital hijinks raise questions about moral character. Moral character. You know, the most fundamental of leadership qualities. Because, you might be the smartest, the wisest, the most hard-working of all politicians, but one sexual snafu and it can all end in a finger-snap. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-piece-of-paper-between-me-and-happiness/ The Age reported this morning that former Tasmanian premier David Bartlett has called on the Labor Party to overturn marriage laws that prevent gay marriage, even by Australians in countries where same-sex marriages are legal. The call came after Bartlett’s half-sister, Angela Borella, was prevented from marrying her partner in Portugal. Here, Angela tells her story. I met her earlier this year in Indonesia. She is Portuguese. I am Australian. We knew after ten days that we never wanted to be apart, so when my medical volunteer contract ended in Indonesia six weeks later, I flew to Portugal to be with her and we now live in Lisbon. She is the most kind, caring and beautiful person I have ever met. It is like we’ve always known each other. She knows me better than I know myself. I’ve never felt so loved in my entire years. I would give everything I have for her happiness. She makes me feel complete and whole. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-piece-of-paper-between-me-and-happiness/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-piece-of-paper-between-me-and-happiness/#item7233 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 As is the rite of passage for all conservative politicians, Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich has found himself embroiled in a sex scandal. Wife number two claims Newt asked for an “open marriage”. She, shockingly enough, now considers him too much of a jerk for office. In even more yawn-worthy news, fellow hopeful, Rick Santorum, has pounced on naughty Newt and determined that those extramarital hijinks raise questions about moral character. Moral character. You know, the most fundamental of leadership qualities. Because, you might be the smartest, the wisest, the most hard-working of all politicians, but one sexual snafu and it can all end in a finger-snap. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/home-is-where-the-hate-is/ The thousands of words on Twitter reflected my own emotions as I watched ABC TV’s The Slap last week. One tweet said: “it’s totally brutal!”, another: “searing, uncomfortable melancholy” and one more: “did anyone else’s heart sink tonight watching The Slap?” Mine certainly did and I was not the only one. It was a bit close to the bone for many, as it shone an unceremonious light on characters’ Aisha and Hector’s 16-year marriage. As I watched Aisha fake anger and hurt at Hector’s admission of his minor infidelity, all the while withholding her own more major dalliance, an image of marriage popped into my head: Marriage is a bonfire stack piling higher and higher with hurts, waiting for a spark to ignite an explosion of desire or destruction. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/home-is-where-the-hate-is/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/home-is-where-the-hate-is/#item7218 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 As is the rite of passage for all conservative politicians, Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich has found himself embroiled in a sex scandal. Wife number two claims Newt asked for an “open marriage”. She, shockingly enough, now considers him too much of a jerk for office. In even more yawn-worthy news, fellow hopeful, Rick Santorum, has pounced on naughty Newt and determined that those extramarital hijinks raise questions about moral character. Moral character. You know, the most fundamental of leadership qualities. Because, you might be the smartest, the wisest, the most hard-working of all politicians, but one sexual snafu and it can all end in a finger-snap. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Compatibility-schmatibility-youve-got-to-work-at-love/ Compatibility is such a clunky, utilitarian word for the delicate harmony that exists between two people. Yet here I am in a Melbourne cafe, scoffing lemon madeleines and discussing how much of it you need to make a relationship work. I’ve always thought 80 per cent, give or take another five to accommodate mood swings (mine) and bloody-mindedness (a quality every man I’ve ever fancied seemed to possess). One friend insists on 95 per cent, because “any less and you may as well tattoo ‘doormat’ on your forehead”. Meanwhile, another pal reckons 60 per cent is sufficient if there’s a reasonable chance of fixing the other 40 (cue much coughing on cake). feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Compatibility-schmatibility-youve-got-to-work-at-love/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Compatibility-schmatibility-youve-got-to-work-at-love/#item7129 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 As is the rite of passage for all conservative politicians, Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich has found himself embroiled in a sex scandal. Wife number two claims Newt asked for an “open marriage”. She, shockingly enough, now considers him too much of a jerk for office. In even more yawn-worthy news, fellow hopeful, Rick Santorum, has pounced on naughty Newt and determined that those extramarital hijinks raise questions about moral character. Moral character. You know, the most fundamental of leadership qualities. Because, you might be the smartest, the wisest, the most hard-working of all politicians, but one sexual snafu and it can all end in a finger-snap. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Keeping-up-with-the-Kar-Krash-of-a-sham-marriage/ In a move shocking to precisely no one, Kim Kardashian, reality TV queen, perennial gossip magazine cover girl and not much else, announced yesterday that she and her husband of 72 days had filed for divorce. From start to rapid finish Kardashian’s marriage was an exercise in attention and money-seeking. E! paid the couple $15 million for the television rights to their wedding special show, while People magazine coughed up close to $3 million for wedding and engagement related rights. The guests were treated to a $20,000 wedding cake. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Keeping-up-with-the-Kar-Krash-of-a-sham-marriage/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Keeping-up-with-the-Kar-Krash-of-a-sham-marriage/#item7052 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 As is the rite of passage for all conservative politicians, Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich has found himself embroiled in a sex scandal. Wife number two claims Newt asked for an “open marriage”. She, shockingly enough, now considers him too much of a jerk for office. In even more yawn-worthy news, fellow hopeful, Rick Santorum, has pounced on naughty Newt and determined that those extramarital hijinks raise questions about moral character. Moral character. You know, the most fundamental of leadership qualities. Because, you might be the smartest, the wisest, the most hard-working of all politicians, but one sexual snafu and it can all end in a finger-snap. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/No-kidding-gay-couples-make-great-parents-/ If we ever needed proof that politicians should respectfully butt out of moral issues like gay marriage, we got it this week in South Australia. On Monday – the same day we learnt that the number of Australian households with mum, dad and kids is set to plummet to just 22 per cent within 15 years – outgoing Premier Mike Rann said the time for same-sex marriage had arrived. So, after effectively putting the issue in the too-hard basket for almost a decade as premier and also during a stint as Labor’s national president, Mr Rann has a rainbow epiphany on the eve of his departure. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/No-kidding-gay-couples-make-great-parents-/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/No-kidding-gay-couples-make-great-parents-/#item6935 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 As is the rite of passage for all conservative politicians, Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich has found himself embroiled in a sex scandal. Wife number two claims Newt asked for an “open marriage”. She, shockingly enough, now considers him too much of a jerk for office. In even more yawn-worthy news, fellow hopeful, Rick Santorum, has pounced on naughty Newt and determined that those extramarital hijinks raise questions about moral character. Moral character. You know, the most fundamental of leadership qualities. Because, you might be the smartest, the wisest, the most hard-working of all politicians, but one sexual snafu and it can all end in a finger-snap. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/whats-that-gillards-giving-into-gay-marriage/ Reports out this morning suggest Julia Gillard’s staunch opposition to marriage equality is starting to give way. According to senior sources within the Labor Party the pressure on the Prime Minister has grown so great that she is planning to announce support for a conscience vote on marriage equality as early as next week. Ms Gillard has proudly fronted the anti-equality campaign and declared her opposition to same-sex marriage at every opportunity. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/whats-that-gillards-giving-into-gay-marriage/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/whats-that-gillards-giving-into-gay-marriage/#item6929 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 As is the rite of passage for all conservative politicians, Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich has found himself embroiled in a sex scandal. Wife number two claims Newt asked for an “open marriage”. She, shockingly enough, now considers him too much of a jerk for office. In even more yawn-worthy news, fellow hopeful, Rick Santorum, has pounced on naughty Newt and determined that those extramarital hijinks raise questions about moral character. Moral character. You know, the most fundamental of leadership qualities. Because, you might be the smartest, the wisest, the most hard-working of all politicians, but one sexual snafu and it can all end in a finger-snap.