2006
28 March Civil Unions Bill 2006 introduced, proposing to establish a system of civil unions for same-sex couples. Explanatory Statement.
11 May The ACT Government introduced 22 pages of amendments (see p. 18 of PDF) and then passed the Bill. Supplementary Explanatory Statement.
8 June The ACT Government introduced and passed the Civil Unions Amendment Act 2006, to reduce the notification period for a civil union from one month to five days. Explanatory Statement. It also passed an address to the Governor-General asking him not to disallow the Civil Unions Act (see p. 2 of PDF).
13 June The Governor-General disallowed the Civil Unions Act. Disallowance instrument and Explanatory Statement.
15 June A motion to disallow the Governor-General’s disallowance instrument was defeated in the Senate by 30–32. Hansard (pp. 22–49 of PDF). This means that the overturning of the Civil Unions Act by the Commonwealth Government was successful. Attorney-General’s media release. Chief Minister’s media release.
The Same-Sex Marriages Bill 2006 was introduced into the Senate by Senators Stott Despoja and Bartlett (Democrats).
June Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Relationships (Briefing Paper, NSW Parliamentary Library)
21 October It was reported that the ACT Government would present a new Civil Unions Bill later this year or early next year (‘Corbell to revive same-sex laws’, Canberra Times, p. 1).
2007
6 February The Commonwealth Attorney-General, Hon. P. Ruddock, announced that the Commonwealth would recommend that the Governor-General disallow the Civil Partnerships Bill 2006 (ACT) in its current form, because ‘It remains the Government’s opinion that the Civil Partnerships Bill would still in its amended form be likely to undermine the institution of marriage’. Media release 6 February. 666 ABC Canberra, Radio transcript 7 February. Doorstop interview 7 February.
5 December Following the change in Government after the November 2007 federal election, the ACT Attorney General indicated that he wishes to introduce an amended version of the Civil Partnerships Bill to the Legislative Assembly. The new Commonwealth Attorney-General, Hon. R. McClelland, has stated that the Rudd Government supports a 'nationally consistent method of registration that the States and Territories may adopt.' PM [Radio Program] transcript
2008
7 February The Attorney General has stated that clauses in the ACT's civil partnership bill that would allow gay couples to hold a public ceremony marking their union are 'unacceptable'. P. Maley, Gay unions OK, just not in public, The Australian, p. 3
5 May After discussions with the Federal Attorney-General, the ACT Government amended the Civil Partnerships Bill 2006 to remove provisions that related to a legally recognised ceremony for civil partnerships. These amendments were made so the legislation would not be vetoed by the Federal Government who opposed formal ceremonies for same sex couples. R. Peake, Angry Corbell abandons gay plan, Canberra Times, p. 1; P. Maley & S. Ryan, ACT made to axe gay unions, The Australian, p. 7
9 May The Civil Partnership Bill is passed by the ACT Legislative Assembly. Media release
250pxLocalisation du Territoire de la capitale australienne (en rouge)




L' a adopté le projet de loi autorisant les couples de même sexe à se marier, le projet avait pourtant été rejeté au niveau fédéral en septembre 2012 avec 98 voix contre et 42 pour. Le projet a été adopté à 8 voix contre 7, deux des 17 membres de l'assemblée étaient absents lors du vote. 

Le procureur général de l'assemblée,  a fait une série d'amendements de dernière minute pour s'assurer que le projet de loi pourrait survivre à une contestation judiciaire. La loi permet aux couples de même sexe de toute l'Australie de se marier dans le .

La ,  a déclaré que le gouvernement allait s'efforcer à traiter tout le monde  équitablement selon la loi et ce malgré la menace de contestation judiciaire.

Le député fédéral local, , ardent défenseur des droits des couples de même sexe, a applaudi le projet de loi, mais le , , a indiqué que son gouvernement allait contester la loi devant la .

L' avait déjà tenté de faire passer une loi autorisant le mariage aux couples de même sexe en 2006 mais elle avait été bloquée par le  sur les conseils du Premier ministre alors en fonction . Le projet de loi a été adopté à nouveau après que Howard a perdu ses fonctions en 2007, mais les dispositions sur le mariage ont été retirés de l'acte sous la menace d'être rejetée par le Premier ministre . Rudd est désormais favorable au le mariage homosexuel.