Terminal illness led to Australia's first same-sex marriage Published duration 7 March 2018

image copyright Marion Jonkers image caption Jill Kindt (L) and Jo Grant were married on 15 December

A dying woman and her partner were the first same-sex couple to legally marry in Australia, it has been revealed.

Ms Grant died from cancer on 30 January, less than seven weeks after marrying Ms Kindt. They had been together for eight years.

"Jo and I got to be legally married for 48 days - I'll take that," Ms Kindt.

image copyright Marion Jonkers

Their historic marriage was made public in Queensland's parliament by state Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath.

"I am honoured to reveal today that on December the 15th last year, despite what you may have seen reported in the media, Australia's first same-sex marriage was in fact actually held in Queensland," she said.

Some other same-sex couples, including others where one partner had a terminal illness, were also allowed to skip the waiting period and a handful of well-reported midnight celebrations took place

But the Queensland couple were married privately in their garden on the Sunshine Coast, surrounded by friends and family. Ms D'Ath said the marriage had been revealed now to parliament with family permission.

She said officials went to "extraordinary lengths" to make Ms Grant and Ms Kindt's wedding happen quickly.

media caption First same-sex wedding on Sydney's Harbour Bridge

The ceremony took place within 24 hours of the marriage being approved.

Ms D'Ath said staff from Queensland Births, Deaths and Marriages drove about 100km (60 miles) to deliver paperwork to the marriage celebrant.

Ms Grant had a "rare cancer" and had been receiving palliative care. She and Ms Kindt had held a commitment ceremony in 2013.