Canberra - Australia is a step closer to legalising same-sex marriage after lawmakers passed a bill in the Senate. The bill, which originated in the upper house, will now be debated in the House of Representatives. If approved there, it will become law. The legislation was introduced after a national vote showed decisive support for legalising same-sex marriage. Senators passed the bill 43-12 on Wednesday, after rejecting proposed amendments by conservative lawmakers. The result was read out to applause and cheers in the chamber, as senators embraced each other. Attorney-General George Brandis, the government's Senate leader, said the legislation would "demolish the last significant bastion of legal discrimination" over sexuality in Australia.(FA)

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