Equality bulletin #60
This Equality bulletin was issued by the TGLRG on 7.6.06
Hi Everyone,
This Equality Bulletin is a call to action in defence of civil unions in the ACT.
As you’ll see below, it may be possible to stop the Howard Government overriding the ACT law if enough of us act now.
Rodney Croome
0409 010 668.
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On Tuesday the Federal Government announced that it will override the ACT Civil Union Act because…well, because it can.
Subsequently, Prime Minister, John Howard, has been on the defensive over his proposal. ACT Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, says he would appeal directly to the Governor-General. Labor leader, Kim Beazley, says he will defend the ACT law. And some of the Federal Government's own backbenchers have expressed concern.
Labor and the Green MPs have flagged motions to prevent an override.
This means the focus is now on those moderates in the Liberal Party who may be convinced to lobby for a conscience vote on the opposition motions and cross the floor to support these motions.
Below is a template letter and a list of talking points you can use when making your views known to Liberal MPs.
It is followed by a list of Senate members who may oppose overriding the ACT law, or who may be open to the issue.
An equivalent list of House of Representative Members will follow if that becomes necessary.
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Dear…,
I am disappointed and angered by the Federal Government’s decision to override the ACT’s new civil union law.
I support laws which solemnise, affirm and give legal security to same-sex relationships. I believe the ACT law achieves this aim without coming into conflict with the Commonwealth Marriage Act.
I urge the Liberal Party to allow this issue to be debated in Parliament, and to allow a conscience vote during this debate.
I urge you to champion this conscience vote, and to support the ACT law when a vote is taken.
Yours,
***
Talking points
1. Same-sex couples deserve the opportunity to solemnise their unions, have their love and commitment affirmed, and provide legal security to their families
2. The people of Canberra have the right to make their own laws and govern their own affairs
3. There is no legal conflict between the national Marriage Act and the ACT Civil Union Act
4. The Tasmanian relationships registry has the same legal effect as the ACT Civil Union Act. If the former is legally and constitutionally valid so is the latter.
5. There is no room in Australian law for prejudice and discrimination against people because of the gender of their partner
6. A recent Newspoll showed that the majority of Australians support laws like those in ACT which allow same-sex couples to formalise their relationships.
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Ensure your letter goes to Senators,
Judith Adams, Cory Bernadi, George Brandis, Richard Colbeck, Alan Eggleston, Chris Ellison, Alan Ferguson, Mitch Fifield, Gary Humphries, Rod Kemp, Brett Mason, Stephen Parry, Kay Patterson, Marise Payne, Nigel Scullion, Judith Troeth, Amanda Vanstone
Their respective addresses are,
Senator.Adams@aph.gov.au, Senator.Bernardi@aph.gov.au, Senator.Brandis@aph.gov.au, Senator.Colbeck@aph.gov.au, Senator.Eggleston@aph.gov.au, Senator.Ellison@aph.gov.au, Senator.Ferguson@aph.gov.au, Senator.Fifield@aph.gov.au, Senator.Humphries@aph.gov.au, Senator.Rod.Kemp@aph.gov.au, Senator.Mason@aph.gov.au, Senator.Parry@aph.gov.au, Senator.Patterson@aph.gov.au, Senator.Payne@aph.gov.au, Senator.Scullion@aph.gov.au, Senator.Troeth@aph.gov.au, minister@immi.gov.au