Gay & Lesbian Equality (WA) welcomes announcement of Civil Partnerships Bill for Western Australia

Saturday, 15 January 2011 19:10

MEDIA RELEASE

Saturday 15th January, 2011

In response to recent information that the WA Nationals are considering a draft civil partnerships bill in Western Australia, peak lobby group Gay & Lesbian Equality (WA) have announced their cautious support for the draft legislation.

"A civil partnerships bill would be a valuable step towards the legal recognition of loving same-sex couples and families in Western Australia. Gay & Lesbian Equality (WA) welcomes the move by the Nationals to consider taking the lead on this issue" said spokesperson Kitty Hawkins.

"The WA Nationals have long had a party policy supporting civil partnerships legislation, and if they choose to act on this draft legislation, the bill would be able to become a reality with the support of Labor and the Greens - even if the Liberal Party chose not support the legislation."

"For the many loving couples of any sex who struggle to prove the existence of their relationships, such legislation would allow them to have their relationships recognised by law, and legally celebrated in front of friends and family, without taking the route of marriage. The legislation would also protect their families' ability to access civil institutions in Western Australia."

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[DETAILS OF MEDIA CONFERENCE AND LAUNCH: The Declared Relationships Project will be launched at 3.30pm on Tuesday 15 May 2007 at St Andrew's Church hall, 257 Barker Street, Subiaco. For further information, please contact Rod Swift on 0417 890 111.]

Western Australian couples will become the first in Australia to benefit from a new do-it-yourself relationship kit to be launched on Tuesday.

A number of WA community groups have pledged their support for the legal kit, designed to allow both heterosexual and same-sex couples to declare their relationship in every State and Territory in Australia. The kit will be available for download from www.declaredrelationships.info

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Western Australia's peak gay and lesbian lobby group has again called on Premier Alan Carpenter to follow the lead of other states and territories, through laws to create a registration scheme for de facto couples in WA.

Gay and Lesbian Equality has repeated its call for law reforms in the wake of the announcement by Premier Steve Bracks' of a registration scheme in Victoria. A comprehensive scheme already exist in Tasmania, while the ACT Government continues to attempt to legislate in the area.

GALE Convenor Rod Swift said the actions of other states clearly indicated that new benchmarks were being set in the area of de facto couple legislation which WA should follow.

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The rally is expected to also call on the Carpenter Government to allow de facto couples the ability to register their relationships under WA law.

The public rally will commence at 12:45pm today at Perth Cultural Centre, James Street Mall, Northbridge. It will be followed by a procession along William, Roe and Barrack Streets.

GALE Convenor Rod Swift says the rally is hoped to send a message to both federal and state governments to move forward on equality for same-sex couples.

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The latest move follows a decision by the WA Nationals prior to the 2005 State Election not to support the WA Liberal Party's policy to roll back gay and lesbian law reforms in WA.

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Churches' special right to discriminate should be tightened.

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GALE's call for Equal Opportunity Commissioner Yvonne Henderson to recommend tightening the exemption comes on the second anniversary of the International Day Against Homophobia.

GALE Convenor Rod Swift says the exemptions allow religious groups to get away with unfairly discriminating against both employees and the general public.

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Current Media Releases

Gay & Lesbian Equality (WA) welcomes announcement of Civil Partnerships Bill for Western Australia

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Time for Howard, Carpenter to act on gay unions

Gays welcome Nationals' support of civil unions

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Equal Opportunity Act's religious exemptions need revamp: gay lobby

WA gay lobby calls on Carpenter to enact civil unions

No Yellow Brick Road for WA's gay couples

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