THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

 

 

The following response has been received from the Australian Labor Party.

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?

 

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

 

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.

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.

 

What else would you like to add?

The Gillard Labor Government believes that couples who have a mutual commitment to a shared life should be able to have their relationships recognised.

While not supporting same-sex marriage, Federal Labor does support a nationally consistent framework for relationship recognition to be implemented by the States and Territories.

Victoria, ACT, NSW and Tasmania have established relationship recognition schemes and relationships registered under these schemes are also now recognised in a wide range of Commonwealth laws.

Federal Labor will continue to encourage other jurisdictions to develop such schemes. For example, the Attorney has written to State and Territory Attorneys-General and raised the issue at the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General.

Federal Labor has introduced reforms to remove discrimination from 84 Commonwealth laws. The reforms remove discrimination and equalise treatment for same-sex couples in areas of taxation, social security, health, aged care, superannuation, immigration, child support and family law.

These reforms extend to same-sex couples the same entitlements and obligations that apply to opposite-sex couples. Equal treatment means some same-sex couples will get access to benefits they could not previously access.

The Gillard Labor Government looks forward to the further development of a nationally consistent framework that provides the opportunity for all couples who have a mutual commitment to a shared life to have their relationship officially recognised. There is no proposal at this stage to change our policy on Certificates of Non-Impediment.