Couples to benefit from 'declared' relationships

Couples to benefit from 'declared' relationships

WA first state to launch legal kits to protect unmarried couples

14 May 2007

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

The new 'declared relationships' are being launched by Gay and Lesbian Equality (GALE), Gay and Lesbian Community Services (GLCS and the Perth branch of the Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) to coincide with the International Day of Families.

GALE convenor Rod Swift said that the kit had been launched to help couples prove they are in a de facto relationship when required by governments and business.

"WA de facto couples do not have access to a relationship register like the one that operates in Tasmania and is proposed for Victoria," Mr Swift said.

"We have therefore launched a legal kit to allow a couple to declare their relationship by statutory declaration."

Mr Swift also called on WA Premier Alan Carpenter and Attorney-General Jim McGinty to follow through on a policy decision by the recent Labor Party National Conference urging all States and Territories to enact relationship registration schemes.

"The Federal ALP's policy now supports non-married couples having access to a registration system run by their State government to protect their relationships," Mr Swift said.

"Such a scheme would protect the rights of de facto couples by issuing them with a certificate that proves without any shadow of a doubt their relationship exists. We urge Mr Carpenter and Mr McGinty to bring WA into line with the ACT, Victoria and Tasmania and implement a comprehensive de facto registration scheme."

MEDIA COMMENT:

Rod Swift            GALE Convenor            0417 890 111

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