The group has written to organisations that appear on the Australian Marriage Equality (AME) list of employers who support same-sex marriage, urging them to reconsider their position.

Letters to employers on the list – which includes ANZ, IBM, ING, Qantas, Westpac and Telstra – expressed “concern” at their recognition of same-sex marriage and advised them they were contravening the Federal Government.

One such letter seen by Queensland Pride, written by Salt Shakers’ Research Director, Jenny Stokes, said: “Whilst your company may recognise homosexual relationships as domestic partnerships, de facto relationships, registered relationships or civil partnerships, we ask that you do not recognise same-sex ‘marriages’.”

Stokes said the Australian government had refused legal recognition to same-sex marriages and that “recognising same-sex marriages is undermining the position of the Australian government”.

AME spokesperson Alex Greenwich told Queensland Pride it was up to employers whether they would recognise their employees’ relationships.

“It’s unfortunate that a so-called Christian group would spend their time on this when there are so many other worthy causes to pursue,” he added.

A spokesperson for Westpac told Queensland Pride: “This group’s representations make no difference to our recognition and support for the relationships of our employees.”

A spokesperson for ING Australia, said: “Employees at ING Australia in same-sex relationships are afforded the same legal rights as those with opposite-sex partners, and that is not going to change.”

Greenwich said: “I greatly appreciate that Salt Shakers has written to organisations on our employers list, as this has given them all the opportunity to re-affirm their support for same-sex marriage."

Salt Shakers did not return calls from Queensland Pride.

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