Parental equality to pressure governments

The ACT Government will remove the last remaining discrimination against same-sex couples and their children in territory law before it seeks re-election on 11 October, adding pressure for the federal and NSW governments to fix its laws.

ACT Industrial Relations Minister Andrew Barr announced the parental leave reforms recommended by HREOC would be introduced in June and effective by August.

That will remove the final piece of ACT legislation -“ other than civil partnerships -“ that does discriminate against same-sex couples. It’s an important step, Barr told a civil unions rally on Saturday.

What I’d like to see now from the Federal Government is a commitment to get on with the 58 areas in federal law that discriminate against same-sex couples.

Barr told the rally the ACT would continue to take a stand against same-sex discrimination, despite pressure to water down its planned reforms.

The gay and lesbian community in Canberra has been left out for too long and its time to fix that.

NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos confirmed again last month that he had no current plans to fix the remaining NSW laws that discriminate.

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has also identified several NSW parenting laws that discriminated against children of same-sex couples by not recognising the relationship with both parents.

Have your say: Do you think the NSW Government is lagging on gay and lesbian rights reform?