DIY registration just the start

Western Australian couples can now have their relationships legally recognised, despite there being no state registry in place.

Gay and Lesbian Equality Western Australia (GALE) is one of a series of organisations in Perth who have launched a do-it-yourself registration scheme called Declared Relationships.

It allows any couple, gay or straight, to make a legal statement to prove they are in a de facto relationship.

Couples in other States can also use the scheme by downloading and filling in the relevant forms for their state from the website at www.declaredrelationships.info.

[Most] couples do not have access to a relationship register like the one that operates in Tasmania, Rod Swift, GALE convenor, commented. We have therefore launched a legal kit to allow a couple to declare their relationship by statutory declaration.

The scheme, however, does not obligate governments to provide legal rights to registered couples.

Peter Power registered his relationship with partner Ian Lawrence in Tasmania, the only state or territory which has an approved registry.

The couple, who run the Rainbow Retreat eco lodge in St Mary’s, decided to take advantage of the scheme.

They simply filled in the form and sent it to Hobart.

But, Power commented, [Registration] is a start, it’s not the end.

Power continued, I’m becoming a marriage celebrant and for me to [have to] say that marriage is only between a man and a woman is going to hurt.

I would like to be able to say marriage is available to all loving couples -“ whether they’re gay, straight, bisexual, transgender or whatever.

Sharon Dane, national convenor of pressure group Australian Marriage Equality, agrees with Power.

Registration will only give you benefits on a state level, she says, There are 39 separate pieces of legislation people would be discriminated against on a federal level, including government pensions, superannuation and tax benefits.

According to Dane, Labor’s plan for registries, while better than the present situation, is only a halfway house.

While registries in each state might persuade a Labor-governed Canberra to throw in federal rights as well, it would still be a second-class alternative to marriage or civil unions because of the lack of a ceremony.

It makes a very clear two-tier system, says Dane. Same-sex couples can sign a piece of paper but they can’t celebrate that in a formal way with a ceremony.

Instead, Dare says, something more substantial is needed.

If you allow civil union or marriage on a federal level you have the state rights and the ceremony.