Civil unions could go “within weeks”

Civil unions could go “within weeks”

The fate of Queensland’s civil union laws could be known as early as this month with the Queensland Attorney-General’s office last week confirming that a final proposal would be brought to cabinet “within a few weeks”.

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie (pictured) is examining the possibility of a full or partial repeal of the laws and sought legal advice on all available alternatives last month, saying “all options are on the table”.

Before the election, then Opposition Leader Campbell Newman said he would not repeal the laws if it left couples in ‘legal limbo’ and that a repeal wasn’t a priority if he won the election.

Action on civil unions was also not mentioned in the new Liberal National Party’s (LNP) first 100-day plan released just prior to their election victory.

Bleijie agreed that a repeal would be an “untenable situation” to put couples through if they had the certificate and it caused them to lose rights, but argued that there may not be rights to take away in the first place.

The LNP opposed the laws when they were debated in Parliament last year and voted against the amendments.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk told the Star Observer that the premier’s position and that of his government remained unclear.

“The new attorney-general has made contradictory statements about repealing the legislation, but also said he does not want to erode people’s rights,” she said.

“The Newman Government needs to clearly state their position on this issue and explain where their reconsideration of the legislation leaves these people.

“People want certainty not uncertainty.”

458 civil unions had been registered since their introduction in February.

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8 responses to “Civil unions could go “within weeks””

  1. In that case, Queensland had better be prepared for an international boycott to be organised in the next few weeks until it backs away from this attack on LGBT rights. Remember Colorado in the nineties?

  2. This is really sad news.

    Unfortunately if people dont speak up or vote with progressive parties this is what happens. Its a real shame.

    Maybe a repeal of the civil union legislation will get those apathetic to fighting for their rights fired up a bit. Maybe this is what we need to get people mobilised for full equality.

  3. They should change the slogan to:
    “Queensland, the backward state”

    Fist Pauline Hanson, then these idiots. QLD is the laughing stock of the union. If this gets repealed, I think it’s time for me to move south.

  4. Australia, including Queensland, is supposed to be a first-world country yet we have bigots telling people that they cannot have their human rights because of their sexuality. What century is this?

  5. I love the message the LNP is sending – ‘We’re trying to take something away from you that probably doesn’t give you rights anyway’.

    So they’re purely about the symbolism of inequality then?

  6. Ah, it seems people’s rights have no meaning where party politics is concerned …

    Let us be, please. The civil union laws have done no harm to QLD nor anyone in its newly elected government.

    Repealing them would just replace that feeling of love and joy with disappointment and heartache. And for what?

  7. The LNP do not think that same-sex couples should have any rights! Simple as that and yet thousands of GLBTI people vote conservative! Obviously only into greed and not social justice!