This is the latest from Australia.
The Advertiser/Sunday Mail
April 30, 2008 09:40am
Rudd pushes equal rights for homosexuals - but not gay marriage
GAY people will gain equality in a wide range of areas under new laws - but the right to legally wed is still off the agenda.
Legislation to remove same-sex discrimination from a wide range of Commonwealth laws would be introduced in the winter sittings of parliament, federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland said today.
"The changes will provide for equality of treatment under a wide range of Commonwealth laws between same-sex and opposite-sex de facto couples," he said.
Areas to be changed include tax, superannuation, social security, health, aged care, veterans entitlements, workers compensation and employment entitlements.
Mr McClelland said the changes were long overdue and followed a landmark report of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission that focused on financial and work-related legislation.
"In some areas, such as social security, tax and veterans affairs, the reforms will be phased in to allow time for couples to adjust their finances, and for administrative arrangements to be implemented," he said.
All the changes are expected to be implemented by mid-2009.
But Mr McClelland said the Government remained firm on its stance against gay marriage.
"We regard marriage as being between a man and a woman. That's confirmed in our platform," he said.
"Equally, our platform recognises that it would be desirable to have a uniform national standard for legal recognition of same-sex relationships as they have, for instance, in Tasmania.
"The register-style model, we regard as appropriate."
The Opposition said it supported the changes in principle but would not support gay marriage, gay adoption or gay IVF.
"As a matter of principle we believe that no Australian should pay a dollar more in tax or receive a dollar less in social security support by virtue of their sexuality," Leader Brendan Nelson said on ABC radio.
"While we will steadfastly oppose gay marriage, gay adoption and gay IVF, we will carefully scrutinise the proposals being put up by the Government, and if they are affordable and reasonable we will certainly be providing support to them."
Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson Rodney Croome welcomed the changes.
"The recognition of same-sex de facto couples is long overdue and will bring Australian national law into line with all Australia's states and territories and many other western nations," Mr Croome said.
He called for continued pressure on the Government to ensure changes were comprehensive.
"Reform must extend to all federal family entitlements including Family Court access, and it must ensure formally recognised civil partners in Tasmania and Victoria have full federal entitlements.
He said it was deeply disappointing that the Government was not prepared to accept equality in marriage.
" But I look forward to same-sex de facto law reform rekindling the debate on why full legal and social equality is needed".
The Advertiser/Sunday Mail
April 30, 2008 09:40am
Rudd pushes equal rights for homosexuals - but not gay marriage
GAY people will gain equality in a wide range of areas under new laws - but the right to legally wed is still off the agenda.
Legislation to remove same-sex discrimination from a wide range of Commonwealth laws would be introduced in the winter sittings of parliament, federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland said today.
"The changes will provide for equality of treatment under a wide range of Commonwealth laws between same-sex and opposite-sex de facto couples," he said.
Areas to be changed include tax, superannuation, social security, health, aged care, veterans entitlements, workers compensation and employment entitlements.
Mr McClelland said the changes were long overdue and followed a landmark report of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission that focused on financial and work-related legislation.
"In some areas, such as social security, tax and veterans affairs, the reforms will be phased in to allow time for couples to adjust their finances, and for administrative arrangements to be implemented," he said.
All the changes are expected to be implemented by mid-2009.
But Mr McClelland said the Government remained firm on its stance against gay marriage.
"We regard marriage as being between a man and a woman. That's confirmed in our platform," he said.
"Equally, our platform recognises that it would be desirable to have a uniform national standard for legal recognition of same-sex relationships as they have, for instance, in Tasmania.
"The register-style model, we regard as appropriate."
The Opposition said it supported the changes in principle but would not support gay marriage, gay adoption or gay IVF.
"As a matter of principle we believe that no Australian should pay a dollar more in tax or receive a dollar less in social security support by virtue of their sexuality," Leader Brendan Nelson said on ABC radio.
"While we will steadfastly oppose gay marriage, gay adoption and gay IVF, we will carefully scrutinise the proposals being put up by the Government, and if they are affordable and reasonable we will certainly be providing support to them."
Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson Rodney Croome welcomed the changes.
"The recognition of same-sex de facto couples is long overdue and will bring Australian national law into line with all Australia's states and territories and many other western nations," Mr Croome said.
He called for continued pressure on the Government to ensure changes were comprehensive.
"Reform must extend to all federal family entitlements including Family Court access, and it must ensure formally recognised civil partners in Tasmania and Victoria have full federal entitlements.
He said it was deeply disappointing that the Government was not prepared to accept equality in marriage.
" But I look forward to same-sex de facto law reform rekindling the debate on why full legal and social equality is needed".
