All equality cards on the table
The Rudd Government introduced the final equality bill this morning, covering all the remaining discrimination in Medicare, veteran’s pensions, workers’ compensation and educational assistance.
Social security and taxation discrimination against same-sex couples is also included, but will be delayed until mid-2009 because they will financially disadvantage couples that were not previously recognised in Commonwealth law.
Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the phasing in will allow time for couples to adjust their finances and for administrative arrangements to be implemented.
I urge the Coalition to make good their stated support for these long-overdue reforms, by backing them in the Senate, McClelland said.
The changes will make a practical difference to the lives of a group of our fellow Australians who have suffered discrimination for far too long. Importantly, the reforms will ensure children are not discriminated against because of the structure of their family.
The Senate is currently considering equality bills covering Commonwealth superannuation, spouse immunity from testifying in court, and allowing same-sex and de facto couples to access the Federal Family Court for financial matters during a breakup.
The Coalition used its majority to send all the bills to an inquiry until 30 September, after the Government’s intended start date of 1 July.
2008 is the best year, were gay people (like myself) have been getting more and more legal rights!!!
Indeedy, Brendan of Wollongong, Brendan of Canberra sure seems a lot less homo-friendly since he lost the earring. He seems to have gone so far back into the closet, he must be hearing the bells of Narnia. But never mind, once Lord Malcolm and Lady Lucy return from their summer house in Europe, Nelson will be Brendan Who? Not that I am saying the duplicitous Turnbull is someone we can bank on, just ask Packer. The only way this shitty imbroglio will be resolved will be through the support of non-aligned Senators and that, as usual, will probably come down to the wheeling and dealing processes that have always characterised the Upper House.
If the LibNats also delay these latest reforms by demanding additional provisions for “interdependents” — something the Coalition found impossible to do while they were in federal government because of cost and complexity — the inescapable conclusions will be that Brendan Nelson lacks the sincerity and courage of his earlier-stated “convictions” about equality and fairness; and that he seeks only to shore up his leadership with the ultra-conservative faction (who put him there in the first place) using the oldest trick in the book: by doing everything and anything possible, for as long as possible, to maintain the marginalisation of same-sex relationships and slam the brakes on progressive change.
Rodney Croome describes it (http://www.rodneycroome.id.au/comments?id=2800_0_1_0_C) as a cycle of objection. Another way to call it is a cycle of obfuscation. Watch closely and hold the Opposition to account. Nelson, if you don’t seriously believe in a fair-go Australia, get out of the way and let the people who DO, take the lead.
Also with same-sex marriage, polygamy should also be fully legalised – because adults have every right to love as many other adults as they wish without governments and burocrates “peaking into our bedrooms” (remember 1984 section 78 of the Crimes Act 1900 No 40) [now repealed], were gay men were jailed for the crime of love. Adults should love as many other adults as they please in my opinion.
I have had it with the liberal party.
Oh Shayne spot on.
Hmmm, traffic jams and self proclaiming masculine ‘gay activists’ aside, this has actually become a very complex issue. First, everyone in the Senate claims a mandate, but no one has the power. Labor is trying to push through reforms in about 100 areas of discrimination but the Libs want the wording changed to include all interdependant couples – like siblings – so that it’s not just about same sex couples, which rather defeats the spirit of the original legislation which was to end discrimination based on sexuality, but appeases the conservative elements of that party. That means a lot of couples on welfare will lose up to half their income. But currently there is no clear definition of an interdependent couple anyway, so that will require another report…or a Senate committee…or another bill… The Libs have suggested a register where couples can declare interdependency …or not….and then it gets really complicated. So, will it all end up a bit of a kerfuffle, a schlemmozle or a total train wreck? While a lot of same sex people are wondering if they’ll live long enough to see an assurance that their estate will go to their life partners anyway, it would be good to see at least some Senators stop faffing around and show some moral courage to end discrimination against glbqti in this country, instead of allowing personal ideology or lack thereof to leave the final say to homophobes like FF’s Steve Fielding.
What a peculiar comment from Paul Mitchell about not supporting Mardi Gras because it discriminates against “masculine” gay men and causes traffic jams! There are some very butch men who might beg to differ about that. Also, gay men will never get anywhere if we compartmentalise and discriminate against each other: Mitchell is doing exactly what he accuses others of doing.
And traffic jams are always with us. I was in one last night and it wasn’t even February.
So is every single federal statute and Acts going to be amended to include “de-facto partner”? (except for the Marriage Act 1961 of course) – In my opinion marriage should be amended to say “adult persons only who love other adult persons only”, but that is not relastic for this timeframe (maybe 2020 I predict). At the moment marriage is defined as “between a man and a woman”, it should not be amended to say “between two humans” (it should say “adult persons only who love other adult persons only” [sic] – Because I also fully support polygamy!!!
Thanks very much to SSO and all (including myself as an activist) that has created change for this long-awaited federal reform to happen. This is fantastic, even though it is a long time coming and waiting all that time ( I did vote in Labor for all levels of Government). I fully support the Rudd Government! I knew the federal Labor Government will commit to it by doing reviews, studies, joint negotiations with groups, trade unions and individuals then highly committing to the legal and legislative changes within the process of the federal family law court to all legal de-facto recognition under 100 laws – Unlike the very anti-gay Liberal Party, all members of the liberal party should be shipped off to a desert island were they belong. Yes as a 22 year-old masculine gay man I FULLY support world-wide legalisation of homosexuality, equal age of sexual consent, unregistered co-habitation, adoption, surrogacy, IVF, ART (assisted reproductive technology), stem cell research, de-facto status, relationship registries and/or both [gender-neutral] or same-sex marriages and polygamy. Also we should allow gay men to donate blood and sperm. I DO NOT EVER support the mardi gras, because it discriminates against heterosexuals [and masculine gay men like me], its just a touristy and money-making thing and also causes absolute traffic jams and nightmares. I formed a group called CGMOA (concerned gay men of Australia) on facebook to make sure that autistic tall masculine gay men who are atheists (yes I am in four minority groups) are heard loud and clear in very tough economic times and financial constrained pressure – So Thanks again SSO for your alliance and team based framework.
Children of lesbian parents are now recognised in NSW (and a couple of other states) with the changes made to birth certificates. My partner and I are very pleased with the changes because it removes so much discrimmination for our children. These chages have come into affect and are being processed through births deaths and marriages fffices now.
When can I crack open my bottle of Moet????
With John Howard gone, the Libs have no excuse blocking legislation that ends so much discrimination against gays and lesbians.
I think this is fantastic. People should stop being so negative and focus on the good that is coming from this. Things will change and things are changing. There has never been so much talk about queer rights in the media or in the Parliament. The only thing stopping us is ourselves. How can we expect the people we elect to change laws for us when we can’t even decided what we want. I think the bitching should stop and we should be enbracing any positive change that comes our way because all good things will lead to better things. Baby steps people. We will get what we want but don’t expect to wake up tomorrow and have it all changed. It’s going to take time and the ball is already in motion.
What does, “Social security …is also included, but will be delayed until mid-2009 because they will financially disadvantage couples … the phasing in will allow time for couples to adjust their finances,” mean? I assume that refers to same sex welfare recipients that live together. Like hundreds of HIV+ couples, one of whom will lose the DSP. So I guess it means, you’ve got a year to find somewhere else to live, or lose your income. ps. Clint, Liberals don’t have control in the senate, Independents like Family First do.
these potential laws are welcome. but please note that as the family law act amendment bill currently stands, it is only seeking to recognise our couple relationships for the purposes of property settlements. it does not seek to recognise the children from our relationships. it means that we’ll be able to access the family court in the event of a relationship breakdown to sort out our property dispute, but that in relation to our children we’ll have to access another court as our family will not be recognised as such under the proposed amendments. please keep lobbying your MPs on this issue. it’s really important that this half-measured reform be revised to recognise our children as our children in relation to all laws, not just where it would suit the government.
Next Year will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots – a turning point in the global push for equality for gays and lesbians – for 40 years this has been our mission – we have protested, campaigned and marched for the Aussie “fair go”. We have had many trials and tragedies along the way – but this is our time…time for full equal recognition…..time to email Opposition Senators from your State and Family First Steve Fielding with your story.
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afg5q8MqKxo for inspiration)
We owe it to all those who have stood up for equal recognition in the past 40 years…we owe it to all of us now and for the generations of Aussie Gay and Lesbians to follow.
I find it difficult to comphrend that someone wants the title of dad or co-parent and don’t feel they have any financial responsibility. Isn’t this what the whole fight is about, having our rights and our responsibilites recognised?
I would imagine that these men if they have struct that arrangement are already doing their bit, so there would be no need for them to come under the eye of CSA. The CSA exists because too many don’t do their part, not just to chase up who has what biological parentage.
Sadly these laws will not pass because the Liberals have control on the senate. Try back in about three or four years. And if the Liberals win the senate next election we might be waiting eight or nine years at the least.
Following my gross homophobic treatment in Queensland I sought help from the then Premier Beattie his deputy Bligh my local state member Sullivan and federal member Swan as a result I will not be trusting any politition to protect my partner and I.We will remain Two single men and live our lives as invisably as possible.Tom
Men who co-parent children with one or more lesbian families may find that they are up for child support payments through the CSA. I don’t think that Centrelink and the CSA will be able to differentiate a divorced dad and a co-parneting dad. It could be even worse if the mother/s has previous children. He could even be liable for them too.
Well it’s taken far longer than it should have – but at least we’re nearly there at last.
Good to see that both sides of politics have apparently applauded the move, but let’s see how it all goes through the senate. The likes of B Bitch will probably still do their best to stamp on us!