"Historic" Canberra forum tackles same-sex reform 25 July 2008
Federal Government agencies have met with members of the gay and lesbian community to discuss same-sex couple law reforms.
The meeting, last Wednesday, was convened by the Attorney-General's Department to thrash out technical legal matters and discuss how reform will be implemented.
Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Corey Irlam, described the forum as "historic".
"This is the first time known that so many federal government agencies
have collectively consulted with the gay and lesbian community”, Mr Irlam
said.
"We are hopeful this may be the start of regular, official liaison between
our community and the Federal Government.”
“Wednesday’s meeting was a historic first step on the path to open two-way
communication on issues faced by our community at a national level."
The meeting discussed a wide range of issues to ensure all provisions
discriminating against same-sex partners are captured by the reform
process.
Education of public servants, private organisations and the LGBT community
about the impact of reform was also on the agenda.
Attendees included representatives of 15 Federal Government agencies, LGBT
legal and human rights experts Wayne Morgan, Miranda Stewart and Jamie
Gardiner, and representatives of ACE, the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights
Lobby, the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, the Tasmanian Gay and
Lesbian Rights Group.
“It is difficult to provide detailed advice to the Department without
seeing a draft of the legislation”, Associate Professor Miranda Stewart of
University of Melbourne Law School said.
“However discussing the issues and raising possible solutions and hurdles
is a great first step.”
The meeting followed lobbying from a number of LGBTI groups for an
Attorney-General's ministerial advisory council on LGBTI issues. At
Wednesday's meeting, community representatives called on the Government to
consider broader consultation in the future. They also called for
inclusion of representatives from the bisexual, transgender and intersex
communities.
A photo of community members and members of the Attorney-General's
department is available by request to
