Federal government plans to 'remove
discrimination' against same-sex couples
April 30,
2008.
Australia's federal
government has announced
that it plans to rush legislation into Parliament next month to change
100 pieces of Commonwealth legislation to 'remove discrimination'
against same-sex couples.
The proposed changes give benefits including tax, superannuation,
social security, health, aged care, veterans entitlements, workers compensation,
employment entitlements.
Attorney General Robert McClelland said that
marriage would not be included in the proposed changes. (Media release link
below)
The finance to cover these changes to the law will be
provided in the May budget. The estimate of the cost is said to be up to
$400 million over four years.
This incredible move by the government gives same-sex couples changes to
an additional 42 laws over and above the 58 proposed by
the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in
their 2007 report 'Same Sex
- Same Entitlements'.
Liberal leader Brendan Nelson told
ABC radio, "Whilst 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."
The truth is that these areas relate to homosexual 'couples', not to
individual homosexuals.
Changing all of these laws and giving this range of benefits to
same-sex couples is not not passive removal of 'discrimination'.
It is active endorsement of homosexual
relationships....
We oppose the endorsement of homosexual relationships that will result by
making these changes to the law.
Prior to the election we noted Labor party policies on this matter, so
we have been expecting this announcement. However the rush to get it through so
quickly has taken most commentators by surprise. Of course the Senate changes at
the end of June and this may be a factor in the timing.
Update - 5 June 2008 -
Superannuation
In early June the government put forward laws
to change superannuation and pensions to allow same-sex partners to receive the
benefit. The Coalition supported the move in the lower house, but will use their
Senate numbers to send the Bill to an Inquiry.
Media
report.
Your ACTION is needed!
Write to PM Kevin Rudd - ask him not to pursue these changes
to Commonwealth law. See his website contact form.
Write to Liberal leader Brendan Nelson. Ask him not to
support these changes to the law. Ask him to allow a conscience vote for
MPs. Email - B.Nelson.MP@aph.gov.au
Write to your federal MP - click here to get their name and contact details.
Write to your 12 state Senators - click here
for details.
References:
The Attorney General's Media Release:
RUDD
GOVERNMENT MOVES ON SAME-SEX DISCRIMINATION
- 30 April 2008
HREOC
Report: 'Same sex - same entitlements'
Media Articles:
Laws
to lose same-sex discrimination
The Australian, April 30,
2008
"THE Federal Government is changing a raft of laws to remove
same-sex discrimination. Attorney-General Robert McClelland said
gay people would gain equality in the move. "The changes will provide for
equality of treatment under a wide range of commonwealth laws between same-sex
and opposite-sex de facto couples," Mr McClelland said....."
McClelland
repeats gay marriage opposition
ABC, 30 April 2008.
ABC
News interviews
With Robert McClelland and Brendan Nelson.
Law
reforms for gay couples
The Age, Misha Schubert,
April 30, 2008.
"GAY couples in Australia are on the verge of winning
equality in tax, health, superannuation, aged care and other areas as the
Federal Government moves to rush through laws to overturn same-sex
discrimination. The Age believes Attorney-General Robert McClelland will
announce today that he will introduce amendments to Parliament as early as next
month to alter around 100 federal laws. The changes will not allow gay
marriages or same-sex couples to adopt children, and the issue of access to the
Family Court for same-sex couples is still being resolved...."
'Winners
and losers' in new gay laws
The Australian, April 30,
2008.
Update: June
2008
Gay
couples face long wait for equal rights
The Age. June 5, 2008
"DISCRIMINATION against gay couples in federal laws will continue for
months, after the Opposition last night vowed to delay any changes until all the
proposed reforms are put before the Parliament.
After an emotionally charged
debate last night, the House of Representatives passed laws to give gays and
lesbians the right to inherit their partner's public sector superannuation or
death benefits.
But the Coalition will use its Senate majority to send the
bill to an inquiry that will consider giving the same rights to other
interdependent couples. It also flagged that it would not support making such
changes until it sees all of the same-sex reform bills proposed by
Labor...." Author: Jenny Stokes | Modified: 9 June 2008 |
