Gillard swallows marriage talk at gay dinner

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The four women and two men ate a three-course meal at her official Canberra residence after winning a charity auction.

Before the dinner Matthew Miller, 12-year-old son of one of the women, presented Ms Gillard with flowers and two letters explaining why he and his brother Dylan, nine, would like their biological mother Sandy to marry the other woman they call "mum".

Steve Russell, 51, and John Dini, 29, of Melbourne, decided against marrying abroad because it would carry no weight in Australia.

The activist group GetUp! paid $31,000 for the dinner when they won a bidding war against a Christian lobby group at a press ball last year.

Although Ms Gillard's Labour party has lifted its long-standing opposition to gay marriage, she is still against it. Three parliamentary Bills have been introduced but it unclear if any would attract enough support.