New UK civil unions spark call for Australian partnership laws Lobby says it's time Australia recognised de facto couples at state & national level 21 December 2005
GLBTI human rights activists have called on both the Australian Government and states and territories to introduce a national civil union scheme for heterosexual and gay relationships.
The call comes in the wake of the high-profile commencement of the United Kingdom's civil union scheme, which today sees singer Elton John and his long-term partner David Furness register their relationship under the new UK laws.
Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) spokesperson, Rod Swift, said that Australia is increasingly out-of-step, with same-sex civil unions or marriage possible in Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, across Western Europe, in several US states, and now the UK.
"The formal recognition of both same-sex and heterosexual non-marital relationships is important to legally protect these relationships equally and fairly", Mr Swift said.
"Those legal protections become crucial when people encounter the problem of trying to prove to authorities that they have a relationship."
Under Australian federal law same-sex couples are prohibited from marrying, although very limited recognition is given to same-sex couples by most state and territory governments.
ACE spokesperson Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne said that administrative processes and certification will help identify couples who have an emotional and financial commitment to each other.
"Certification is important when same-sex or heterosexual de facto couples are required to prove their relationship status, in areas as diverse as child custody, superannuation death benefits, passport applications or during a medical emergency," Ms Pilgrim-Byrne said.
"Tasmania already has a system of partnership registration for gay and straight couples and the ACT has announced plans for civil unions to be introduced from early 2006."
MEDIA COMMENT: Rod Swift 0417 890 111
Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne 0400 091 742
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL UNION AND MARRIAGE SCHEMES:
A growing number of countries are enacting civil union schemes for de facto couples, or same-sex marriage rights – to equate same-sex couples to their heterosexual counterparts. Listed below are the schemes which will be given reciprocal recognition by the new UK Civil Partnership Act.
Andorra - unio estable de parella (stable union of pairs) Australia: Tasmania - significant relationship Belgium - cohabitation légale, wettelijke samenwoning, gesetzliches zusammenwohnen (statutory cohabitation) Belgium - marriage Canada - marriage Canada: Nova Scotia - domestic partnership Canada: Quebec - union civile, civil union Denmark - registreret partnerskab (registered partnership) Finland - rekisteröity parisuhde registrerad partnerskap (registered partnership) France - pacte civile de solidarité (civil solidarity pact) Germany - Lebenspartnerschaft (life partnership) Iceland - staðfesta samvist (confirmed cohabitation) Luxembourg - partenariat enregistré, eingetragene partnerschaft (registered partnership) Netherlands - geregistreerde partnerschap (registered partnership) Netherlands - marriage New Zealand - civil union Norway - registrert partnerskap (registered partnership) Sweden - registrerat partnerskap (registered partnership) United States of America: California - domestic partnership United States of America: Connecticut - civil union United States of America: Maine - domestic partnership United States of America: Massachusetts - marriage United States of America: New Jersey - domestic partnership United States of America: Vermont - civil union