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(Sydney, Australia) The Australian Parliament Friday gave final approval to a law defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

In a move that has angered gay rights advocates the Labor Party voted with the ruling Liberal coalition in the Senate to pass the marriage amendment bill after an emotion-charged debate.

Australian Democrats sexuality spokesman Brian Greig, who is openly gay, said the bill had been driven by fundamentalist Christian MPs and community leaders, who rallied in Canberra last week.

"Imagine if I were to stand in this chamber and boldly announced that Jewish people were shameful, vile and moral terrorists," Senator Greig during debate on the issue.

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LGBT activists say the bill may be unconstitutional.

"Our lawyers are exploring the possibility that the constitutional basis for the new law is too weak to sustain it," said Equal Rights Network spokesman Rodney Croome.

"We are seriously considering the possibility of a High Court challenge."

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