Supporters of equality urged to write to couple inquiries
7 July 2008
The Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) has urged all members of the LGBTI community to take 5 minutes to make a submission to the current Senate inquiries into the rights of same-sex couples.
ACE Spokesperson, Corey Irlam, said "We urge the LGBTI community to mobilise, be loud and vocal by making a personal submission to the Senate inquiries, to prevent a watered down version of equality."
"Individual LGBTI people can contribute to ending discrimination by taking 5 minutes out of their lives to send in a submission. Personal stories may be added to a sample submission that can be downloaded from www.coalitionforequality.org.au"
Key Issues
• There are three inquiries. They are about same-sex superannuation entitlements, equal access to the Family Court and new rules for giving evidence in legal proceedings.
• Written submission deadlines is by 25 July 2008
• Submissions must clearly respond to issues from each of the three inquiries and clearly state their submission is for each of the three inquiries.
• The government has proposed to recognise same-sex couples as defacto partners in Commonwealth Defined Benefit Superannuation schemes along with allowing defacto recognition under private superannuation schemes. We urge LGBTI people to support this.
• The Coalition has raised the issue of interdependent relationships. While we support the recognition of such couples, in principle, we oppose same-sex couples being mischaraterised as interdependents. Recognition of same-sex partners as defactos was recommended by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s report Same-Sex: Same Entitlements.
• The Coalition wants “marriage” removed from the Federal Government’s new umbrella term “couple relationship” in order to inscribe a second-class status for de facto and registered relationships. We urge LGBTI people to support “couple relationships” as an umbrella term.
• The Coalition is also concerned about full and equal legal protections for children of same-sex families. We urge LGBTI people to support this recognition.
• The government has proposed to give equal access to the Family Court in the event of a same-sex relationship breakdown. This would cover property division and maintenance that would include the ability to split superannuation. Currently same-sex couples can only access the Family Court for child-related matters. We urge support of this reform.
• The government has moved to enact new rules that would not compel same-sex couples from giving evidence against their partners. We urge support of this reform.
To find out more information about the inquiries and download the sample submission - click on the "2008 Senate Inquiries" left-hand link at www.coalitionforequality.org.au.
