Opposition accused of "ideological attack' on all de facto partners
4 September 2008
"The Opposition is saying a marriage without love is more important than a de facto relationship with it."
- ACE spokesperson, Rodney Croome.
Gay advocates have welcomed a Federal Government Bill which will further recognise same-sex de facto partners in federal law, but have accused the Opposition of using the initiative to undermine the rights of all de facto partners.
The Same-Sex Entitlements Bill introduced into Parliament today will remove discrimination against same-sex partners in areas like immigration, taxation, veterans' pensions and aged care, and follows a Bill introduced earlier this year aimed at removing discrimination in superannuation.
Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said that the Government's reforms will ease the financial burden on same-sex partners, particularly those who are elderly and retired.
"This is a long over due reform which will help make Australia and fairer society", Mr Croome said.
"We now urge the Government to quickly move on to removing discrimination against same-sex couples and their children in family law, as it promised at the last election."
Meanwhile, the Opposition has accused the Government of allowing "polygamy" by recognising de facto relationships where one partner may still be in an estranged marriage, and has said it will remove protection for de facto partners in such circumstances.
Mr Croome accused the Opposition of an ideological attack de facto couples.
"The Opposition is saying a marriage without love is more important than a de facto relationship with it", he said.
"This is an ideological attack on the rights and protections all de facto couples have enjoyed for more than a generation in both state and federal law."
"It's a fact of life that in some de facto relationships one partner may still be married, at least on paper, and that unless such de facto relationships have some legislative protection the unmarried partner is legally and financial vulnerable, especially if their de facto relationship breaks down."
"The Government's initiative is about giving equal protection to de facto partners no matter what their personal circumstances, and we strongly urge both the Government and the Senate not to cave in to the Opposition's prejudices."
