Legal advice sought on civil union repeal
Queensland’s new Attorney-General has called for legal advice on the state’s civil union laws, saying “all options are on the table”.
The Australian reports that Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie has sought legal advice from his department, canvassing all available alternatives including a full or partial repeal of the laws.
There are at least 100 same-sex civil unions registered in Queensland that would be affected by any change, although Bleijie has said the topic was open for discussion.
“I simply asked for the advice. I’m not in any rush to do it, but we’re not going to let it drag on to be a political circus. We want a resolution to it,” Bleijie told The Australian.
Before the election, then Opposition Leader Campbell Newman (pictured) 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.
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.
“It may be the case that this legislation created no more legal rights than for anyone else across the country. Everything is open for discussion,” he said
The Liberal National Party opposed the laws when they were debated in Parliament last year and voted against the amendments.
All this business about repealing civil unions because they mimic marriage? What an insult! That’s why I wrote to the tax office and told them I would no longer pay taxes or lodge forms until the government ended all discrimination against GLBTI people. That was three years ago. I’ve only gone public now since receiving three Penalty Notices for overdue returns. The Penalties must be paid by 23 April 2012. I’ve advised the ATO that I shall disregard the Notices.
Such a shame! After all the progress and now this. Tell me again why the government has any say in what happens in my relationships?
Sounds fair to me – we live in a democracy. Pretty convincing win with the largest backlash in Australian history.
Would Queensland readers like the rest of Oz and NZ to initiate a boycott of their state until it sees sense?
These people are supposed to be our leaders. So much for a fair go. The LNP’s values on this issue are more aligned to a dictatorship regime in a country such as Syria. The LNP are an absolute disgrace to the minority groups in this country and ‘Completely UnAustralian’. SHAME!!
And as in the past we will do everything in our power to work against the LNP and it’s regressive, sheep-dip government.
Sickened, saddened, but not surprised.