AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS

 

The following response was received from the Australian Democrats.

AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY
PARTY SURVEY FOR THE 2010 FEDERAL ELECTION

Does your party support an amendment to the Marriage Act to allow same sex couples to marry?

The Australian Democrats believe that ALL Australians should have equal rights. The Marriage Act as it stands is simply government legislated discrimination.

 

If so, what will your party do in the next term of government to ensure this reform occurs?

The Australian Democrats will introduce a Bill of Rights that encompasses the need for Equality in Marriage. Subsequently, we will lobby to have a conscience vote on the issue to ensure there is no need to vote along party lines and every parliamentarian is free to vote as they choose.

 

If not, what are your specific reasons for denying same-sex partners full legal equality?

 

In 2009 the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee inquiry into marriage equality made the following two recommendation. Does your party support the implementation of these recommendations in the next term of government?

The committee recommends that the Government review (by reference to the Australian Law Reform Commission, or some other appropriate mechanism) relationship recognition arrangements with the aim of developing a nationally consistent framework to provide official recognition for same sex couples and equal rights under federal and state laws.

We believe that Equality in Marriage would negate the need for any different recognition for same sex couples. Same sex couples would be included on the same registry as heterosexual couples  and as such entitled to the exact same rights under both state and federal laws.

The committee recommends that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issue Certificates of Non-Impediment to couples of the same sex on the same basis as they are issued for couples of different sexes.

Once same sex marriages are legalised in Australia Certificates of Non-Impediment will be issued just the same for same sex couples as they will be equal in the eyes of the law.

 

What else would you like to add?

The Australian Democrats have a long and proud history of support for marriage equality. We will not compromise this record by supporting proposals for the recognition of same-sex relationships at a national level which are inferior substitutes for equality in marriage and which entrench the second-class status of same-sex relationships. The Australian Democrats will no longer allow this system of legislated discrimination to occur. The Australian Democrats believe there is no such thing as "half equal" or "separate but equal". Equality is indivisible.