New group for registered partners
Registered partners in Tasmania have formed an organisation to educate same-sex couples about the benefits of taking out a Deed of Relationship.
The group InDeed will also lobby the Federal Government to recognise state-based Deeds of Relationship.
Despite attempts by Victoria and the ACT to establish similar schemes, Tasmania remains the only Australian state to formally recognise same-sex and other relationships.
InDeed spokesman Peter Power said partners who have formalised their unions by taking out a Deed of Relationship have a common interest in seeing such deeds more widely understood, respected and recognised.
“The number of recognised couples in Tasmania is keeping pace with other places, but there are still thousands of Tasmanian couples who would benefit from a Deed of Relationship who aren’t informed of these benefits,” he said.
One hundred couples had registered Deeds of Relationship with the State Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages by 3 December 2007.
A Deed of Relationship in Tasmania offers immediate access to all relationship rights in state law, the ability to verify those rights if challenged, and the symbolic importance of recognition from government and society.
For more information email Peter at [email protected] or go to www.relationshipstasmania.org.au/indeed.html.
