As some 1,500 people are said to have turned out for the rally at Town Hall before walking to Darling Harbour in Sydney on Saturday, the 45th National ALP Conference - held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre at the Harbour - saw the 400 ALP delegates reject same-sex marriage and "any form of recognition of relationships that undermines marriage," according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Some 5,000 people, by the organisers' estimate, took to the streets the same day at Federation Square in Melbourne - making it the largest single show of support for marriage equality ever in Australia. Sixty-five same-sex couples reportedly tied the knot - albeit illegally at the event.Similar rallies to demand that the federal government recognise same-sex marriage was also held in six other cities: Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Lismore.

Last year, the Rudd government announced it would amend almost 100 discriminatory laws preventing gay couples from sharing financial and social entitlements enjoyed by married and defacto couples, such as taxation and pension benefits.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland, who seconded federal minister Anthony Albanese's "compromise motion that included a commitment to a nationally consistent same-sex union register" as described by the Herald, told delegates on Saturday: “The support of Australia's faith-based communities, consistent with undertakings made before the last election and indeed reflected in our current platform, was based on those reforms not undermining the institution of marriage.

 

"Marriage is defined, as the amendment reflects, that we acknowledge and commit to the definition of marriage. That is defined in the Marriage Act as being between a man and a woman. And indeed that definition, I believe, is certainly consistent with the provision of the Australian Constitution."

He further reiterated PM Rudd's stance that his government "will not support any form of recognition of relationships that undermines marriage" saying: "I should place on the record that this resolution is not intended to, and does not support, any form of legislative or other action that in any way undermines the institution of marriage which is defined, as I've indicated in the Commonwealth Marriage Act, as being between a man and a woman."

Sydney's gay SX News highlighted Albanese's comments about the compromise: "Sometimes you can't always get what you want, but you get what you need" which angered lobby group Australian Marriage Equality (AME).

AME spokesperson Alex Greenwich told SX that Albanese's comments were "deliberately vague in an attempt to appease both sides of the debate: his boss and his electorate. Only his boss is happy. His electorate - like the majority of Australians - want equality, not empty rhetoric."

Albanese told SX: "I do find it an unusual tactic to criticise those such as myself who have supported gay and lesbian reform for over a decade," which he said had resulted in "100 pieces of legislation changed for the benefit of the gay community."

To which Greenwich countered: "It's just another example of the ALP saying, 'We've already given you enough - stop bugging us for more.'"

Rudd, a self-described moderate Christian, has long opposed recognition of same-sex marriage nor legalise nationally recognised civil unions. He has made known before he won the 2007 elections that he would ensure national marriage laws would continue to define marriage as between a man and woman.

The Australian Capital Territory, and the states of Tasmania and Victoria, recognise domestic partnerships which confer gay couples limited rights.