|
Australian Coalition
for Equality
|
27
April
2007
Labor's Same-Sex Registration
Policy
Entrenches
Discrimination
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) has expressed
disappointment over the ALP's policy on the legal
recognition of same-sex relationships announced at its national
conference today.
AME national convener,
Sharon Dane, said:
"Registration for same-sex relationships and other
significant personal relationships is of value for
couples seeking certain legal rights, but provides little
consolation to those who seek to marry or formally celebrate
their relationships."
"The creation of a state-based system
for the recognition of our
relationships will not grant us legal equality. It
further entrenches discrimination under Australian law."
"Labor is mistaken in
thinking that this debate is solely about taxation or
superannuation, etc, important as those things are. This is
about fairness, decency and respect for gay and lesbian
Australians and their families."
"Imagine if the government arbitrarily decided to extend the
marriage prohibition to Aborigines or Jews, or indeed
people with blue eyes, instead allowing them only
to register their relationships. The very idea is offensive
and demeaning" said Sharon Dane.
Peter Furness, AME national
secretary, said: "Partnership registration is
worthwhile in its own right but Labor is supporting it for all
the wrong reasons."
"It opposes the
minimal ceremonial requirements of an Australian marriage
applying to same-sex couples because this is the main objection
of the Australian Christian Lobby."
"They have also decided
that the scheme should be state-based rather than give it
federal standing, bending over backwards to appease those
who hate us."
"Same-sex couples married
overseas will continue to have their marriages denied
recognition, or reclassified as something else, simply
because they are gay or lesbian."
AME expects that the Labor
Party will begin quietly promoting the policy to the gay and
lesbian community.
"Labor will undoubtedly be
trotting out MPs like Tanya Plibersek and Anthony Albanese
in Sydney and Lindsay Tanner in Melbourne, all of whom are
married themselves, to convince us that equal
marriage rights are not important and that we should be
grateful for registration."
"The ALP's policy
will leave us well behind a growing list of countries who
have extended their gay and lesbian citizens genuine
equality, including the right to marry."
"Labor chose today
not to resolve a political issue, but to prolong it",
said Mr Furness.
Labor's Policy:
"Labor will ensure
that all couples who have a mutual commitment to a shared
life do not suffer discrimination because they are not
married.
Labor will take action to ensure the development of
nationally consistent, state-based relationship recognition
legislation that will include the opportunity for couples
who have a mutual commitment to a shared life to have those
relationships registered and certified.
This legislation will:
- be based on the scheme that
has existed in Tasmania since 2004 and that the
Victorian Government has announced its intention to
introduce;
not create schemes that
mimic marriage or undermine existing laws that define
marriage as being between a man and a woman."
|
