Supporters of equality urged to write to couple inquiries
This media release was issued by the Australian Coalition for Equality on 8.7.08.
The Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) has urged all members of the LGBTI community to take 5 minutes to make a submission to the current Senate inquiries into the rights of same-sex couples.
ACE Spokesperson, Corey Irlam, said "We urge the LGBTI community to mobilise, be loud and vocal by making a personal submission to the Senate inquiries, to prevent a watered down version of equality.”
“Individual LGBTI people can contribute to ending discrimination by taking 5 minutes out of their lives to send in a submission. Personal stories may be added to a sample submission that can be downloaded from www.coalitionforequality.org.au ”
Key Issues
• There are three inquiries. They are about same-sex superannuation entitlements, equal access to the Family Court and new rules for giving evidence in legal proceedings.
• Written submission deadlines is by 25 July 2008
• Submissions must clearly respond to issues from each of the three inquiries and clearly state their submission is for each of the three inquiries.
• The government has proposed to recognise same-sex couples as defacto partners in Commonwealth Defined Benefit Superannuation schemes along with allowing defacto recognition under private superannuation schemes. We urge LGBTI people to support this.
• The Coalition has raised the issue of interdependent relationships. While we support the recognition of such couples, in principle, we oppose same-sex couples being mischaraterised as interdependents. Recognition of same-sex partners as defactos was recommended by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s report Same-Sex: Same Entitlements.
• The Coalition wants “marriage” removed from the Federal Government’s new umbrella term “couple relationship” in order to inscribe a second-class status for de facto and registered relationships. We urge LGBTI people to support “couple relationships” as an umbrella term.
• The Coalition is also concerned about full and equal legal protections for children of same-sex families. We urge LGBTI people to support this recognition.
• The government has proposed to give equal access to the Family Court in the event of a same-sex relationship breakdown. This would cover property division and maintenance that would include the ability to split superannuation. Currently same-sex couples can only access the Family Court for child-related matters. We urge support of this reform.
• The government has moved to enact new rules that would not compel same-sex couples from giving evidence against their partners. We urge support of this reform.
To find out more information about the inquiries and download the sample submission - click on the "2008 Senate Inquiries" left-hand link at www.coalitionforequality.org.au
For more information please contact Corey Irlam, ACE Spokesperson on 0401-738-996.