Marriage
equality
advocates
have renewed
their call
for reform
of the
Marriage Act
to recognise
same-sex
couples in
the wake of
the
commencement
of new
federal laws
allowing
same-sex
partners
financial
entitlements.
Australian
Marriage
Equality
spokesperson, Alex
Greenwich,
said that
same-sex
partners
accessing
entitlements
and
benefits,
including
pensions,
may be
required to
prove their
status as
defacto
partners,
something
generally
not required
of married
partners.
"Being
eligible for
financial
entitlements
is one
thing, but
accessing
them is
quite
another",
Mr Greenwich
said.
"Same-sex
partners
applying for
entitlements
in areas
like
pensions may
be required
to prove
they are in
a defacto
relationship
by producing
personal
documents,
submitting
affidavits
from friends
and/or
answering
intrusive
questions."
"This will
be
particularly
onerous for
same-sex
partners who
have kept
their
relationship
secret out
of fear of
discrimination."
"In most
circumstances
a marriage
certificate
puts the
existence of
a
relationship,
and the
partner's
right to
equal
entitlements,
beyond legal
doubt or
challenge."
"Along with
the
important
symbolic
benefits of
equal
marriage
come the
practical
benefits of
easier
access to
relationship
entitlements
and
benefits."
From 1
January same-sex
partners are
eligible for
benefits and
entitlements
in areas
such as
health care.
At the
weekend it
was widely
reported
that war
widower,
Edward
Young, and
other
same-sex
spouses of
serving or
retired
military
personnel
will be
eligible for
equal
relationship
entitlements
from 1
July
2009.
