Same-sex law reform passes important hurdle / Call on Opposition to drop objections to detail of reform

This media release was issued by the Australian Coalition for Equality on 16.10.08.

Gay rights advocates today welcomed amendments to the Family Law Act recognising children born to same-sex partners through IVF and surrogacy.

Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Corey Irlam, praised the decision of Senators "to act in the best interests of children".

"It is in the best interests of the children raised by same-sex partners for both their parents to have the same legal rights and responsibilities as parents of children who are in an opposite sex relationship", Mr Irlam said.

The Opposition failed in its attempt to remove the term "parent" from those provisions dealing with same-sex and defacto couples with children.

"The Opposition wanted to turn back the clock to a time when there was a legal distinction between the children of married couples and those of defacto partners."

"We are appalled that the Opposition wanted to downgrade the legal status of heterosexual defacto partners rather than grant full parent status to same-sex partners."

"We congratulate the Rudd Government, the Australian Greens and Senator Xenophon for recognising the importance of using the term 'parent' for same, opposite, defacto and married partners" said Mr Irlam.

"We call on the Opposition to now drop its objections to various details of reform and join other parties in granting equal entitlements and recognition to same-sex partners and their children."

The Bill before the Senate acts on a 2002 recommendation from the Standing Committee of Attorneys General to refer responsibility for defacto partner property division from state supreme courts to the Family Court of Australia.

The Government expanded this to include the recognition of non-biological parents in same and opposite sex relationships in the wake of recommendations from a Human Rights Commission report on same-sex entitlements issued last year and a subsequent Senate inquiry earlier this year.

The Bill will now return to the House of Representatives next week, before a final vote in the Senate in November.

For more information contact Corey Irlam on 0401 738 996.