NSW relationship registers a reality
The NSW Government has announced it will introduce relationship registers, making it easier for same-sex couples to access legal entitlements.
NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos today made the surprise announcement that NSW would fall in line with other states — Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania — and introduce legislation to recognise de-facto couples.
“The register, endorsed by State Cabinet, will ensure NSW is aligned with Commonwealth Government moves to remove discrimination against unmarried people in heterosexual and same-sex relationship,” he said.
“Under current laws, it can be very difficult for couples who are in de-facto or committed relationships to prove their relationship for the purpose of accessing government services, entitlements or records.
“Couples who choose to register their relationship will be provided with one document that helps prove their relationship and will be spared the frustration of constantly having to supply agencies with copious amounts of paperwork.”
Gay and lesbian rights advocates across the country welcomed the reforms, but agreed that it was no substitute for marriage.
“State civil partnership schemes are ideal for couples seeking legal recognition who have no desire to marry, but they are not a substitute for same-sex marriage,” Australian Marriage Equality spokesman, Peter Furness said.
For a full wrap-up of reactions, see tomorrow’s edition of the Sydney Star Observer.
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Lets face it guys LABOUR=ANTIGAY.If anyone wants to argue just look at what happened on Thursday in parliament.What a disgrace!
We are second class citizens.Thats the reality.Once again we are being told we are not equal enough,not good enough,not..whatever enough to have the same rights as straights.
Kevin Rudd,You and your Labour government came into power promising so much change.Instead we have this SHAMEFUL,DISGRACEFUL contempt of human rights on the EVE of MARDI GRAS.How absolutely pathetic.Don’t count on our vote again,MR RUDD.
To add insult to injury, this proposed law does not even include “caring relationships” (which is INCLUDED in the Victorian and Tasmania models – what a total shambles!!!!
Please include ALL relationships and family types or I do not support this proposed law!!!!!!
Do not get your hopes up yet – it is JUST AN ANONCEMENT!!!!
Queensland back in 2008 made an ANONCEMENT and guess what it is now 2010 – and still no relationship register!!!!!
Here is the media release:
http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/Corporate/ll_corporate.nsf/vwFiles/230210_relationships_register.pdf/$file/230210_relationships_register.pdf
Paul please provide your contact details, that $645 covers my car rego…due in July this year…
I bet you 645 dollars and 10 cents that the NSW “relationship registory” will not become effective – until AFTER the March 11, 2011 election!!!!
What are the NSW Liberals planning?????? – I bet to “repeal” this idea and provide us with NOTHING!!!!!!
Jason New Zealand and the UK DO NOT have gay marriages – they have “civil unions” or “civil partnerships”. Also it is not called Holland – it is actually called “the Netherlands”. Holland is not the correct term to use because it is actually an island just of the Netherlands.
And you missed out on Southern part of Argentina, Sweden, Portugal# (does not include adoption), Belgium, Norway, Mexico City, District Of Columbia in the US all having full and equal gay marriages and not “civil union”, “civil partnership” or “relationship registries”.
#Portugal new “Equal Marriage Code 2010 laws” will become effective from May 2010 and does not include adoption rights (as did Belgium did previosly). Belgium did allow adoption rights – 3 years AFTER gay marriage – Portugal has copied Belgium!!!!!
NOTE:
When gay marriage laws get APPROVED – USUALLY it automatically comes with adoption, IVF/surrogacy “parentage prosuptions” and the taking of a surname (which is optional) are all achieved in all one go at the exact same time!!!!!
Will the proposed NSW “Relationship Registory” be modelled on the Tasmanian Relationships Act 2003 scheme????
I for one, think its good that we can now atleast sign a legal document declaring our relationships. Its a step forward. Anything forward is good. We will get marriage equally, but I think we will most probably get there one step at a time. With NSW, VIC, ACT, TAS having relationship registries, almost two thirds of lgbt Australians will have the opportunity to legally, physically sign a document declaring their relationship. Thats a VERY big difference to just a few years ago.
Marriage equally will happen a step at a time. I believe we have already made a few leaps, in just a few years!
Ofcourse, we should always put marriage equality first, and fight for it as much as we can, but we should also look at how far we have already come.
This relationship register is a big step forward.
aN INTERESTING DICHOTOMY NOW. With our realationships state registered, entitling us to all those goodies, How do we anul/divorce? Will anyone bother going through all that shit to separate? Perhaps signing a document or register will make us think closely about the responsibilities of a partnership/union/marriage?
Dingo Vobiscum,
Hell xoxoxo
Too many postings here don’t realise that a State based register is the only option for a state government.
Marriage or civil unions are only possible by the Commonwealth Government.
Let’s welcome this as a (small) positive step.
This is absolutely no substitute……
“Under current laws, it can be very difficult for couples who are in de-facto or committed relationships to prove their relationship for the purpose of accessing government services, entitlements or records.”
Change it then!! Allow us to marry the person we love and we can all call it a day!!!!
I get the feeling the NSW government is running scared and doesn’t want to lose all those precious gay votes. Well, I’ve got news for it. As a gay man, I will NOT be voting for Labor at the next election. Labor has let us down and stabbed us in the back. Anything short of a civil union or marriage is unacceptable to me.
This isn’t good enough. The rest of the world is getting gay marriages and gay civil unions. Spain, New Zealand, Britain, parts of the USA, Holland, South Africa…you name it. This register in NSW simply puts us in the same position as a daughter caring for her sick mother. The homphobic NSW government still doesn’t want to accept our love as being legit.
This is good news for same-sex couples who don’t want to marry if they could. However in terms of marriage equality I feel this will set us back, and make it harder to gain full marriage rights.
Do we get microchips with that.
They should recognise certificates already issued under the far superior City of Sydney scheme running since Jan 15th 2005 that INCLUDES an OFFICIAL Ceremony!!!!
AND, as a final “F.You.” to the NSW Govt, CONTINUE to run the Clover’s City of Sydney official ceremonies, as the NSW govt one just want to register us like a dog. Instead, they can just register our copy of our City of Sydney Ceremony certificate for their register.
(AND not to mention that the far superior City of Sydney Ceremony Certificate ALSO records on the certificate how long the couple has ALREADY been together).
Will they recognise the couples registered already at the Sydney Town Hall (and elsewhere in Australia)? And will couples have to re-register if they move to another state, like you do with a pet? (And importantly, not like a marriage!)
Also, I wonder how they will prove the first one???!!!
“To be eligible to register a relationship on the Relationships Register, couples must:
* be in a committed, exclusive relationship.
* not be married or in another relationship that is registered or registrable.
* be 18 years of age or older; and one person must be a resident of NSW.”
Too little too late if you ask me …. this government will be totally fucked over when it hits the polls. We’re not going to vote for them now -relationship register or not!