Rudd changes “unfair” to lesbians

A perhaps forgotten but certainly not extinct lesbian rights group has taken a swipe at the Rudd Government for ignoring the plight of lesbians in recent changes to same-sex entitlements legislation.
Members of the Coalition of Activist Lesbians (COAL) say they are shocked and dismayed a grandfather clause has not been included for social security support, and say older women in particular will be unfairly affected.
Members of the national advocacy group will march during Mardi Gras to speak out further on the issue and encourage the government to rethink the July 1 timeframe all same-sex couples have to disclose their relationship status if on social security benefits.

COAL spokeswoman Sand Hall said the lack of phasing-in stands to impact lesbians more than gay men because of a gender divide in pay rates.
-œIt’s rather cruel to suddenly bring in this legislation when there hasn’t been the opportunity to make adjustments or warn or prepare people who have set up their finances accordingly, she told the Star.
-œAround earning capacity and financial situations, from a gender perspective, the investment and financial reality for gay men, particularly in jobs, is different; they earn more, they tend to have a lot more superannuation.
-œWomen generally have been the carers in society, whether it’s children or the elderly, and their investment and financial situation generally is less -” there’s an inequity based on gender.
Although COAL made a submission to the HREOC same-sex entitlement inqu-iry, Hall admitted the group overlooked pushing for a grandfather clause, not realising, until the legislation had passed, the potential impact changes would have on the community.
Hall said the changes are -œblatantly unfair and has serious concerns about the health and welfare of those on existing benefits. She cited the case of a couwhere one partner’s carer’s allowance will be reduced from around $500 a fortnight to $160 when means-tested.
Hall said lesbians are also unaccustomed to a relationship structure that includes one partner becoming financially responsible for the other.
-œThe new legislation will create hardship for a great many lesbians who have planned their living, financial, social and retirement arrangements, including mortgages, on the basis of two financially independent beings.
-œThe changes have come too suddenly for lesbians to plan or rearrange their long-term finances and housing.
COAL will seek an audience with federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland while he is in Campbelltown, NSW, during a community cabinet meeting on February 17.