Libs granted conscience vote on relationship register

Libs granted conscience vote on relationship register

NSW Coalition members have been granted a conscience vote on the NSW Relationship Register legislation.

The Relationships Register Bill 2010 was presented to Parliament last Friday and will be debated in coming weeks.

If passed, it will mean same-sex and unmarried heterosexual couples will be registered with and recognised by  NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages.

NSW Opposition leader Barry O’Farrell confirmed the Coalition conscience vote to Sydney Star Observer.

“The Liberal Party has a tradition of allowing conscience votes where there is no party line that must be followed,” he said.

“[Conscience] votes reflect the different opinions that exist in the community on these issues. Our party’s tradition has always allowed for individual MPs to cross the floor when their conscience dictates.”

The Keneally Government and gay and lesbian rights groups have urged Coalition members to support the bill.

“We are calling on the Opposition to stand united and back the Relationships Register Bill 2010,” a spokeswoman for the NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos said.

“Back the bill that will make it easier for unmarried couples who are in de facto or committed relationships to prove their relationship for the purpose of accessing government services, entitlements or records.”

In its current form the bill allows adult couples — where at least one member resides in NSW — to register their relationship. It also provides recognition of couples registered under similar schemes in the ACT, Victoria and Tasmania.

“We hoped any registration scheme would also recognise registrations in other states,” NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby policy coordinator Sen Raj said.

“We are pleased the registration will not place onerous requirements on proving eligibility.

“This is a step forward in relationship recognition. It is not a substitute for marriage equality, but in the interim some tangible recognition is a step forward.

“We have expressed concern over the lack of ceremonial options for couples to have during their registration though.”

Raj also welcomed the Opposition’s decision to allow a conscience vote.

“It is more promising than the Coalition simply opposing the legislation as party policy. Obviously we would prefer if they all supported it, but if not, a conscience vote is better than complete opposition,” he said.

“We would hope [the Coalition] would support equal recognition for same-sex couples and heterosexual couples — all people should be entitled to equality under the law.”

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8 responses to “Libs granted conscience vote on relationship register”

  1. Some bloggers here wax nostalgic about (conservative) reformers of the past. Get a grip!

    As Opposition leader in the lead up to an election Rudd committed to introduce the Human Rights Commission recommendations to give gay and lesbian couples equal financial and welfare recognition.

    This was done within a year of taking office – with the firm support of Opposition Leader, Malcolm Turnbull. And we saw what happened to Turnbull!

    Near twenty years ago, Clover Moore and other independents held the balance of power – and a desperate Liberal Premier, John Fahey, introduced homosexual vilification laws as a result of that pressure.

    John Brogden was the last progressive state Liberal leader. That breed is gone, hunted and hounded out of the Liberal party.

    Nostalgia for brave reforms of the past is misplaced and plain wrong.

  2. Clover Moore had a relationship register plan – way back in 1997 mind you!!!!!

    Denmark had a relationship register since you guessed it – in 1989!!!!!

  3. Perhaps Queensland will be next in line for a Relationships Bill?????

  4. If Tasmania and Victoria can have a relationship register – then why has it taken sooooooo long for NSW to introduce one???? The ACT has “civil partnerships” (with cerimonies included). Tasmania also has cerimonies included as well!!!!

    Then the legislation was just introduced to the NSW Cabinet just 3 months ago – see the “Relationships Register Bill 2010” here (it is moddelled on the Victoria non-cerimony model):

    http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/NSWBills.nsf/d6079cf53295ca7dca256e66001e39d2/57f8af30e6a0d630ca25770d001af7dc/$FILE/retationships.pdf

  5. Great idea Liz, we don’t need these people to tell us we are ok. We can make our own ceremonies and incorporate it into our day of celebration.

  6. If there’s no ceremonial options, why not go to the Registry immediately before or after your Commitment Ceremony? Lodge your application (or sign the register, or whatever) while all frocked up for the big day.

  7. This comes as no surprise, most of our community either forget or choose to forget that it was The Liberals under John Fahey and Attorney General John Hannaford who passed into law the “Homosexual Anti-Vilification” bill way back in the 1990’s despite Fred Nile and his mob of far-right loony tunes.

    Most Gay men seem to think that The Labor Party and Clover Moore are the people to vote for. If this conscience vote gets up, I hope they might consider that The Catholic Right controls the Labor Party in NSW and we all know who the head of the Catholic Church is in Australia, don’t we? That old Homophobe Pell of course.