Centrelink to attempt compassion
Older gay and lesbian couples and people living in rural areas will be treated with compassion in their dealings with Centrelink, federal Minister for Housing and Community Services Jenny Macklin has written to a coalition of community groups.
Macklin again ruled out introducing a grandfather clause, but said people’s fears about discrimination should be taken into account when determining debt accrued over the past six months.
If couples can show they withheld registering their relationship out of a “legitimate fear” of being discriminated against, Centrelink may be able to waive the debt.
Questions to Macklin’s office, about how people would be able to prove they had withheld their information out of fear of discrimination, went unanswered. She did not comment on the reason for the Government’s concession.
A department spokeswoman reiterated the need for couples to register their relationship.
“It is important that same-sex couples receiving Centrelink payments declare their relationship, as these relationships are now legally recognised,” she said.
“We are continuing to take an understanding and compassionate approach to bringing equality under social security.”
Welfare Rights Network president Maree O’Halloran told Sydney Star Observer that the letter from the minister’s office would be a useful tool for gay and lesbian couples who want to go before the social security appeals tribunal.
“It will be a document that we can provide to indicate that the minister and Centrelink are taking a particular approach,” O’Halloran explained. “Without it, we wouldn’t have anything we could take to Centrelink to say, you need to treat this person properly. You need to recognise their unique circumstances, you need to recognise that in certain ways their life has been different from an opposite-sex couple’s.
“What I’m fearful of though is that, despite this letter, if you are someone who is concerned about discrimination, then you’re unlikely to come forward and try that process.
“I think there are a lot of people laying low and afraid because they have debts over their head or they’re scared of discrimination.”
Only an estimated 6300 people have declared their same-sex relationships with Centrelink — well short of the anticipated 11,000.
“It is disappointing that the minister did not provide any transitional arrangements, but it’s encouraging to see that there is compassionate language in this letter,” spokesman for the Coalition for Equality Corey Irlam said.
“Couples who have questioned whether they are a member of a couple, as defined by Centrelink rules, should feel encouraged that this provides an opportunity for them to discuss their situation with Welfare Rights, and act accordingly.”
info: For more information or to contact Welfare Rights, visit www.welfarerights.org.au or call 1800 226 028.
I am very angry that we have a government that cares less about its own people by going into a 200 billion dollar debt – while gay men like me and others who work extremely hard day in and day out and pay thousands of dollars in tax, are denied the very civil right to marry and it stinks.
WE LIVE IN 2010 FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!!!
Why does a very pathetic Communist Labor government that is run by Kevin Rudd that says –
“We have to fully disclose our relationships, our partners, our sex life’s, etc”.
It is totally true that we even have to disclose our same sex experiences even at the time when you will be kicked into a jail cell for the crime of loving another of the same sex back before 1997 when it was a criminal offence.
What’s next that Kevin Rudd fears will happen –
Possums marrying a kangaroo??????
Atheist or civil marriages between your own sex does not harm or demonize heterosexual marriages in any way shape or form – GOT THAT!!!!!!
Pathetic Kevin Rudd PATHETIC!!!!!
Now in 2010 my vote WILL go straight to Bob Brown (Greens) now!!!!
I agree with pozpaul Centrelink is not to be trusted
Kevin Rudd is a communist that’s why!
Hi Paul, would you be so kind as to explain how ,
quote “I have a full right to live with my very handsome de facto same sex partner (as with de facto couples of the opposite sex couples as well) under the Family Law Act 1975 – So Centrelink can go and get f*****!!!!!” and how this would or wouldn’t effect Centrelink payments. I think a lot of people would be interested.
Regards PozPaul
I have a full right to live with my very handsome de facto same sex partner (as with de facto couples of the opposite sex couples as well) under the Family Law Act 1975 – So Centrelink can go and get f*****!!!!!
I know many gay couples who have cleverly rearranged their formalities around fear over these new laws, including some who live separately and have mutual dependencies.
“registering their relationship”. W.T.F.??? KevinRudd flat out REFUSES to register the relationships of WORKING gays & lesbians at a national level, yet will glady register those on the dole????
No way am I telling any Gruberment Department who I sleep with. I don’t trust Krudd and his affiliation with The Australian Christian Lobby. I can see a lot of gay men going underground, especially the older ones, once bitten twice shy.
In many country areas our community is targeted by both local politicians, newspapers, and Catholic leaders. It is not realistic to expect all people to come out. Some have well founded fears.
Take for instance the Border Mail in Albury that runs headlines such as “Gay Marriage Fails Children” and goes on to vilify people who are gay saying we will have to have a sorry day if they have children. Most years, there is at least one murder in Albury that is due to the sexuality of an individual. Last year someone had there throat cut from ear to ear simply for being gay. The local Catholic Xavier College also published in its newsletter how bad gay people are, and one writer was saying they should be removed from the face of the earth. In addition people from our community had to put up with the local member Susan Ley and her endless jibes at gay people in the paper. Although it is a FairFax paper, it often vilifies people who are gay or lesbian.
I can well understand the legitimate concerns some people would have declaring there relationship. It can be about protection of one’s own life. If Federal Labor ended all discrimination against people from our community, then it would help end the vilification that takes place in country areas. Naturally more people would then declare the relationships they have. But instead of doing this, Kevin Rudd has chosen to blame the victim.
For further reading:
http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/opinion/letters/general/gay-marriage-fails-children/1701407.aspx
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=15176