Equality changes applauded

Gay rights groups have applauded the Rudd Government’s delivered promise to remove around 100 discriminatory laws for same-sex couples.

The three landmark same-sex entitlement bills passed through Parliament last week, coming into effect early next year.

Same-sex couples now have equal rights with heterosexual couples in areas relating to tax, superannuation, social security, health, aged care and family law.

Speaking after the last of the bills was approved, Attorney-General Robert McClelland said discrimination had been removed -œat long last.

The Australian Coalition for Equality applauded the changes and have wasted no time in pushing the government for further reforms.

-œFor the first time, gay and lesbian Australians will celebrate Christmas with their families knowing they have equal legal protections, ACE spokesperson Corey Irlam said.

-œHowever, the job of tackling discrimination remains unfinished until there is a national law prohibiting sexuality discrimination, and until discrimination in marriage is removed.

Labor senator Penny Wong said the legislation delivered on an -œimportant election commitment and offers equality in law same-sex couples have -œnever previously experienced.

Liberal senator George Brandis also welcomed the changes, telling Parliament it was a -œshame the reforms were not undertaken by the Howard government.

Speaking last week from Tasmania, gay rights advocate Rodney Croome said he was delighted the reforms had passed and said he would have a quiet celebratory drink with his partner.

ALSO Foundation CEO Lyn Morgain called the changes an -œextraordinary step forward and said the legislation will have lasting implications.

Morgain said the reforms make Victorians -œalmost equal as the community awaits the outcome of the Artificial Reproductive Technology Bill this week.

-œThis is an achievement this organisation, along with many others, has worked on for decades, so clearly it’s a historic moment -” not only for our community, but particularly the many community organisers, advocates and others who have worked over time, she said.

Morgain also cited recognition of gender discrimination as a key issue the ALSO Foundation faces as the transgender community is now -œsignificantly behind.

She called for community legal education to inform the community of the new rights and responsibilities.
Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby co-convenor Hayley Conway said she was excited with the -œcross-community effort at getting the changes through.

-œIt shows an enormous commitment that they [Rudd Government] did come through with what they were saying they would and that’s a really good sign after 12 years under the Coalition where things didn’t go forward, but rolled backward, she said.

-œThese are rights to an extent we’re never seen in Australia and which a lot of people in the world still don’t have, so it is a historic win and it is setting the bar for further things to come, because these are not laws that will apply to everyone.

Conway said the Lobby will be looking to the Government to change gender identity laws and federal discrimination protection.