Massive support for register

Massive support for register

The NSW Relationship Register soared over its final hurdle last night, with an overwhelming 32-5 vote of support from the NSW Upper House.

The emotive debate over the NSW Relationships Register Bill seen in the NSW lower house the night before continued in the other chamber, with Greens members lamenting the lack of mention of same-sex marriage.

Predictably, members of the christian right were predicting the death of marriage and family as we know it.

The five objections came from members of the religious right: Fred Nile, of the Christian Democrats and the Reverend Gordon Moyes of the Family First Party.

“Leaving aside its philosophical or moral problems, any requirement that the relationship has any real meaning is very weak and almost non-existent in the way this bill has been drafted,” Nile told his parliamentary colleagues after arriving in the chamber late from the annual Australian Christian Democrats dinner.

“I reaffirm my support for traditional marriage, which I believe came from the creator, Almighty God, when it was stated in Genesis that a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and the two shall become one flesh.

“Some people who disregard the Old Testament will note that Jesus Christ himself repeated those words in his own teaching and that the apostles included those words in their epistles just to make it clear for the Christian church in the New Testament period. I oppose the bill and hope members will give serious consideration to the amendments.”

The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Council, Matthew Mason-Cox, led the objection on his party’s side with support from David Clarke – using quotes from the Sydney Star Observer – and Marie Ficarra.

But overwhelmingly there were more pleasant words than unpleasant with National Party member Trevor Khan among the most passionate.

“In Australia our ethics are built on the concept of a fair go. Our ethics are built on the very fundamental foundation of tolerance and decency, and I believe that that is the basis upon which there is the difference,” he said.

“If one looks at some of the responses on Facebook in relation to debates on this matter, the question keeps being asked: Why should there be any difference? Why should people not be entitled to the same rights?

“It is that fundamental question of why that has stopped the avalanche of emails that otherwise would have happened. It is a question of why do we discriminate against a section of our community?

“I believe that this bill is on safe ground because it reflects the fundamental ethos of a fair go.”

What do you think?
Leave your comments below.

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17 responses to “Massive support for register”

  1. exactly what I’d been waiting for. A diverse reaction from all you good people about this register. I jumped the gun with my previous comment but I think I’ve made up our minds about going to Births, Deaths & Marriages. Now, is there any way we could have the ceremony/signing under that faaabulous chandelier in the Sydney Town Hall?
    Many congratulations from Hell xo.

  2. Mihai,

    The Register does not confer any rights similar to marriage, the Family Law Act does. To access the same rights and privileges as marriage upon the breakdown of the relationship you need to establish you were in a de facto. You don’t have to be registered on a relationship register to be in a de facto relationship, but being registered it would be hard to argue otherwise. The same treatment of de facto relationships as mrriages came into effect on 1 March 2009 for NSW, upon operation of the amended Family Law Act.

    In order to get the same treatment as marriage in terms of being able to marry, the Marriage Act needs amending.

  3. These and the Federal Government recognition of same-sex couples (“58/08”) are significant steps.

    Lets celebrate their arrival, note their shortcomings and continue to push for full recognition.

  4. Actually folks I have just read the bill and it is pretty good. Spouse has been redefined. No its not marriage but we can make out own ceremonies and keep pushing for marriage. Don’t vote for anyone who doesn’t support your equality.

  5. … ONE step at a time…
    There would be a bucket load of Gays and Lesbians in the government…
    Why on earth do they keep knocking about with this?

    Cheers
    Rob
    Q Zuu PhotoGraphics – facebook.

  6. I don’t get what this is all about. Why does anybody need a piece of paper from a government department to tell you what you already know; that is, you’re in a relationship?

  7. It is far from equal but I suspect that might be a little way off. We see couples all the time who want to express their commitment to each other. I don’t think that it is the best solution but at least it signals to families and the outside world that this person is special to them. I am still seen as the ‘unmarried’ one of four sons….despite the fact I have been with my partner for over 10 years ! Hopefully the register will change that.

  8. Paul, the relationship register DOES confer almost all of the state and federal rights of marriage. The only notable exception is adoption. Being in a de facto relationship also gives you these same rights. However, being in a registered relationship is more secure since you do not have to prove your relationship every time – you only need to produce your certificate of registration.

    So, while a relationship register definitely lacks the symbolic and ceremonial weight of marriage, from a pragmatic perspective it provides almost identical rights.

  9. Great!

    Now me and my partner can be like a couple of gay dogs! What is it with this all blithe acceptance, after the GLBTI community gets thrown a big ugly bone that is the relationship register? There is no such thing as half a human right and we should not rest until all GLBTI people are granted full equality!

    Woof!

  10. I think this is awesome.. this will give great supporting evidence for immigrating through de-facto partners :) Chris and I are surely going to register :)

  11. I’m concerned this doesn’t really do many favours… while it could be argued it’s a first step, more likely it’s a tick in the box that this has been dealt with… and it’s far from equal to marriage.

  12. Gina,

    You register your relationship and that is it. This is not marriage by another name. It does not confer the same rights and privileges as marriage. The Family Law Act says what you are entitled to upon the breakdown of a relationship, marriage or de facto. The definition of de facto relationship has about 8 factors, one of which is being on a relationship register. From a legal perspective, all it does is establish evidence of a de facto relationship. I don’t agree it is a step closer to same sex marriage. That would require some changes to the Marriage Act, such as repealing Howards definition of marriage and non-recognition of overseaqs same sex marriage. My legal opinion about the relationship register? Big deal.

  13. It’s telling that Fred Nile quotes from the Bible and Trevor Khan quotes from Facebook. Good work, everyone involved in making this happen. x

  14. But what legal difference does it make. Do I have to go to the family court if I decide to opt out? or is it a fancy bit of paper with no real legal standing.

    Hey Scott get a lawyer to write something about how this thing works legally.

    Editor’s Note: Details on how it will work are still sketchy Gina – but we are working in it … may take several weeks though.

  15. This seems to replicate the work of Councils like former South Sydney and now City of Sydney -showing how local governemnt can lead the way. I supported the registers as a way of pressuring governments but they really are still treating our relationships as second class. My partner and I have never signed the various registers because we can’t accept the second class status they confer. Civil Unions or Gay marriage are the only way to recognise the worthyness and official acceptance of our relationships for all society to see. Until then we are still riding in the baggage car of society’s train.
    Shayne Mallard
    Councillor
    City of Sydney