<sod >Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull proclaimed a "day for love, for equality, for respect" after the House of Representatives passed the bill to change the definition of marriage from solely between a man and a woman to "a union of two people." The public gallery erupted with applause, cheers and singing when the bill passed on Thursday, making Australia the 26th nation to legalise same-sex marriage.< eod>< sod > Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull proclaimed a "day for love, for equality, for respect" on Thursday as Australia became the 26th country in the world to legalise same-sex ceremonies.< eod>