tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post1070996190846117634..comments2024-03-23T12:05:23.537-05:00Comments on The Wild Reed: The State of Marriage Equality in AustraliaMichael J. Baylyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-10535745420308668242017-08-10T15:27:30.070-05:002017-08-10T15:27:30.070-05:00Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective...Thanks for sharing your experience and perspective, Brian.<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-54043047202843067712017-08-10T14:47:32.029-05:002017-08-10T14:47:32.029-05:00Like you I am an ex-pat. I moved to New Zealand in...Like you I am an ex-pat. I moved to New Zealand in 2010 and last year I proudly became a Kiwi. While I still own an Australian passport, I only use it when visiting Australia and I would rarely do that if I did not have family and friends there. I say I am Aussie by birth but Kiwi by choice. I guess you, like me, lost the right to vote in Australia, having left for 6 years, I was able to vote in New Zealand after 1 year of permanent residency. Unlike Kiwis who moved the other way I also gained all benefits. I was over 65 so was given the aged pension backdated to my arrival date, my much lower (due to the assets test) Australian pension is paid to the NZ government. I had to wait 2 years for non urgent surgery but that was the only restriction. I did not become a Kiwi to gain any benefits. In 2013 Same-sex marriage was overwhelmingly passed by a free vote in the NZ parliament. It was in the news for a few weeks then disappeared. Most of my (over 60's) friends just said "Why not?" The prime Minister at the time voted in favour, the Deputy (now PM) voted against, he is a devout Catholic, but has now announced he believes he was wrong and would now vote in favour. I regularly state New Zealand is 2 hours ahead in time but years ahead in social and political development.Brian Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10802352695666737088noreply@blogger.com