AHRC criticises Government on marriage

In the wake of polling showing that three quarters of Australians believe same-sex marriage in Australia is inevitable, the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has expressed concern over the Gillard Government ignoring a UN recommendation Australia move towards marriage equality.

The direction came about as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Australia’s human rights by the United Nations in Geneva last year.

The recommendation that Australia legalise same-sex marriage came from Norway, a country which has allowed its citizens to marry regardless of the sex of their partner since 2009.

AHRC president Catherine Branson (pictured) said the Government had accepted, or accepted in part, more than 90 per cent of recommendations made during the UPR process and had undertaken to report back in two years to the UN Human Rights Council on how it is implementing these recommendations.

However, she said the Commission was disappointed that the government had rejected other recommendations such as the introduction of a Human Rights Act, same-sex marriage recognition, and compensation for Stolen Generations children.

“The Commission will continue to monitor and advocate for improved human rights protections in Australia, including in relation to immigration matters and other recommendations not accepted by the Government,” Branson said.

The NSW Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) was also unimpressed with the Government’s refusal to act on marriage and used its response to the UPR to press the Government to advance its promised inclusion of sexual orientation into Federal anti-discrimination laws.

NSW GLRL co-convenor Kellie McDonald said, “While it is pleasing that Australia is reforming anti-discrimination laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity, Australia is falling behind comparable jurisdictions which have full marriage equality.”

“Marriage is a civil institution, governed by secular laws. The Government should act immediately on the UPR recommendations, and amend the Marriage Act to ensure all people can marry.”

NSW GLRL co-convenor Rathana Chea said, “The Government must recognise that the right to non-discrimination requires that same-sex and gender diverse couples have access to the same forms relationship recognition as heterosexual couples.”