WA gay lobby calls on Carpenter to enact civil unions

"The significant gay and lesbian law reforms of 2001 were a huge step forward, but more needs to be done specifically to protect the rights and responsibilities of those couples who are unmarried or who cannot marry," Ms Pilgrim-Bryne said.

"The Howard Government can override the laws of a territory, but not a state.  The WA Government should set up a civil union registration scheme that can be used by residents of any state or territory."

Under Australian Federal law same-sex couples are prohibited from marriage under the Marriage Act 1961.

 

"While the State Government has enacted excellent laws to outlaw discrimination against same-sex couples, gay and lesbian people still encounter the problem of trying to prove to authorities that they have a relationship."

 

"There is no administrative process, no registration office, no legal certificate to show that a gay or lesbian couple is legally, emotionally and financially interdependent."

 

"Certification is important when same-sex couples are required to prove their relationship status, for example, when applying for insurance, child custody, superannuation benefits, visa applications or during medical emergencies."

 

"Tasmania already has a system of partnership registration for gay and straight couples and the ACT will soon have civil unions."

 

"Labor Governments in Britain and New Zealand have both enacted civil unions, while the Netherlands, Spain, Canada, Belgium and South Africa all have full marriage rights. Regrettably, same-sex couples in WA have no such legal certification."

 

"Western Australians should not have to travel all the way to Canberra to arrange for a civil union, there should be the facility and the legal right to do that here in our state.  Indeed, there would be a  tourism gain to WA if a civil union registration scheme for all Australians was enacted here, Ms Pilgrim-Byrne said.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne 0400 091 742  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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