Comments on: Visa rules relaxed for gay couples http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2009/11/17/18275/18275 Australia's leading gay and lesbian news source Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:05:11 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Oliver http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2009/11/17/18275/18275/comment-page-1#comment-18090 Oliver Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:12:34 +0000 http://www.starobserver.com.au/?p=18275#comment-18090 Sadly, if Gay marriages were to be legalised in Australia, so many people would see it as an easy access to Australia. Its an open door to people abusing the system. Australia already brings in 200,000 migrants per year and has forgotten about us already honest people who were born here. Theres food for thought. Sadly, if Gay marriages were to be legalised in Australia, so many people would see it as an easy access to Australia. Its an open door to people abusing the system. Australia already brings in 200,000 migrants per year and has forgotten about us already honest people who were born here. Theres food for thought.

]]> By: Steve http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2009/11/17/18275/18275/comment-page-1#comment-18014 Steve Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:33:33 +0000 http://www.starobserver.com.au/?p=18275#comment-18014 Lets hope I do not have "to prove" that I am a gay man by having sex in front of Customs officers!!!! Lets hope I do not have “to prove” that I am a gay man by having sex in front of Customs officers!!!!

]]> By: Ghassan http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2009/11/17/18275/18275/comment-page-1#comment-18008 Ghassan Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:28:45 +0000 http://www.starobserver.com.au/?p=18275#comment-18008 It is worth noting that the 12 month cohabition requirement can also be waived for de facto couples (even if they do not register) if they can show 'compassionate and compelling circumstances' for the grant of the visa. (See Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) Reg 2.03(3)(b)). During debate on the reforms, the NSW GLRL (of which I was involved with at the time) lobbied on this point to ensure couples who were not otherwise able to live together overseas (for example, because homosexuality was illegal and they would risk persecution) should not be disadvantaged by cohabitation visa requirements. The NSW GLRL submission on this issue is available online (http://glrl.org.au/images/stories/same_sex_relationships_bill_submission.pdf). It is worth noting that the 12 month cohabition requirement can also be waived for de facto couples (even if they do not register) if they can show ‘compassionate and compelling circumstances’ for the grant of the visa. (See Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) Reg 2.03(3)(b)).

During debate on the reforms, the NSW GLRL (of which I was involved with at the time) lobbied on this point to ensure couples who were not otherwise able to live together overseas (for example, because homosexuality was illegal and they would risk persecution) should not be disadvantaged by cohabitation visa requirements.

The NSW GLRL submission on this issue is available online (http://glrl.org.au/images/stories/same_sex_relationships_bill_submission.pdf).

]]> By: Gay activist Paul Mitchell http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2009/11/17/18275/18275/comment-page-1#comment-17992 Gay activist Paul Mitchell Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:02:21 +0000 http://www.starobserver.com.au/?p=18275#comment-17992 Long overdue! Long overdue!

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