‘Marriage wouldn’t bring equality’

Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes has defended the same-sex de facto model proposed in the Same Sex: Same Entitlements report as the only way to achieve equality.

Amending the Marriage Act to include same-sex couples would grant some additional rights he said, but would not solve the 58 areas of discrimination that currently exist.

“Some same-sex couples, like opposite sex couples may choose not to marry. It’s important that financial equality is achieved for all couples, whether they’re married or not,” Innes said.

“I don’t in any way dismiss the importance or significance of marriage for the gay and lesbian community. But we decided to take this in a number of bites.”

Australian Marriage Equality spokeswoman Sharon Dane said de facto recognition was insufficient because it was harder to prove and too easily contested.

“We’re not rejecting de facto recognition, but full equality has to include marriage,” she said. “Very clearly it’s an area of discrimination that exists.”

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle said the same-sex marriage debate was already well-known and didn’t need to be further highlighted by HREOC.

“They’re contributing to the knowledge base of what people don’t already know about, the other areas of discrimination,” Nettle said.

The Greens would continue to campaign for same-sex marriage into the federal election because, by banning it, the Howard Government had made it an issue leading up to the previous election.

“For so many people in the community that’s not something that goes away, the pain that people experienced when that decision was made,” she said.

“There will be other debates around adoption, IVF and superannuation in the lead-up to the election, but that list forever more will contain same-sex marriage.”

Community Action Against Homophobia launched their 2007 election campaign to repeal the same-sex marriage ban last week, drawing support from community, religious, lobby and union allies. A National Day of Action rally will be held on 12 August to protest the ban anniversary.