Australia: Government excludes marriage from law changes

Link: ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Excerpt:

The Australian Coalition for Equality says discrimination will not be eliminated until same-sex couples are allowed to marry.
(File photo) (AAP: Sam Mooy)

 

The Federal Government says it will begin introducing legislation next month to remove same-sex discrimination from 100 Commonwealth laws.

The Government says the amendments to end discrimination against same-sex couples will make practical differences, but will not sanction changes to marriage laws.

The move will cover areas like superannuation, tax, health, employment entitlements and aged care.

But Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland says it will not extend to marriage.

"The government believes that marriage is between a man and a woman so it won't amend the marriage act," he said.

"But in all other areas that we've identified the issue of discrimination against same-sex couples will be removed."

"We anticipate that the reforms will be all introduced by the middle of 2009."

But Rodney Croome from the Australian Coalition for Equality says discrimination will not be eliminated until same-sex couples are allowed to marry.

"While this is a very important reform in itself and it'll certainly remove many of the more severe disadvantages faced by same sex couples in Australian today, it's not the end of the matter," he said.

"Until there's full equality in Australian law, for same and opposite sex couples, discrimination continues, prejudice continues and we can't allow that as a nation."

"Gay and lesbian Australians will not be fully equal until we are allowed the right to marry the partner of our choice."

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[jw]