The NSW Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) has strongly condemned the Howard Government for rejecting the amendments supported by the ALP, Democrats and Greens to include benefits for same sex couples in the Government’s Superannuation (Government Co-Contribution For Low Income Earners) Bill 2003.

“The Howard Government has once again demonstrated their recalcitrant attitude when it comes to lesbian and gay equality,” said GLRL Co-convenor Rob McGrory. “We condemn the Government for allowing blatant discrimination to continue under federal superannuation laws.”

There has been broad support for including benefits for same sex couples in superannuation arrangements for many years including unanimous support from the superannuation industry and recommendations from a Senate Inquiry and HREOC Inquiry.

“It is absolutely unacceptable that gay men and lesbians are expected by law to make superannuation contributions, but then are denied the right to decide where it can go,” said fellow GLRL Co-convenor Somali Cerise. “By allowing this discrimination the Howard Government is in breach of two international conventions to which Australia is a signatory – the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Labour Organisation Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention.”

GLRL Co-convenor Rob McGrory commented, “We congratulate the Greens, Democrats and ALP for their support of the legislative amendment. We look forward to working with these parties in the near future to remove this discrimination.”

The GLRL urges community members to write to their Federal MP and members of the Senate to keep inclusion of same sex relationships under federal superannuation law on the agenda. Further information can be found on the GLRL website www.glrl.org.au.