|
8 August 2007 - Same-sex rights bill before parliament next week |
|
The Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) has welcomed news that the Australian Democrats will be introducing a bill into the Senate next week which will implement the recommendations from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Same Sex: Same Entitlements report. The Democrats bill, to be presented by party leader Senator Lyn Allison, seeks to ensure same-sex couples and families are afforded equal entitlements across federal laws.
“This bill will put the issue firmly on the agenda and force the major parties to articulate their commitments to GLBT voters before the federal election. The GLBT community wants to know what the major parties will be offering for GLBT voters in the next term of government,” said Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby spokesperson, Ghassan Kassisieh. With only two sitting weeks left until the end of this parliamentary sitting, Canberra is heating up in preparation for a Federal election, expected in October or November this year. Relationship recognition will be among the hot issues for GLBT voters. “This bill presents an important impetus for omnibus reform that the major parties can draw upon. Never has relationship reform been so easy. The public support it. A government inquiry has given a step-by-step approach to reform. All that is needed is government drafting and action”, Kassisieh added.The Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby has made recommendations to the Australian Democrats on improving the bill in key technical details, including ensuring social security reforms are phased in and ensuring legislative definitions are soundly phrased. The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby will also be addressing the National Day of Action this Sunday in Sydney to help send a strong message in the lead up to meetings with government MPs, including Phillip Ruddock and Malcolm Turnbull, next week.
|
