For the second time in less than a week, an Australian state has unveiled plans to give rights to same-sex couples. The Victoria state government filed legislation on Tuesday to create a domestic partner registry. The bill does not go as far as one announced on Friday in the Australian Capital Territory, which would allow civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, but it will afford couples proof of their relationship, Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls said. The bill will be debated in Parliament in February and Hulls expects to pass it in March. "This is not marriage, and there is no ceremony attached to it," he said. "It's simply a way of making it easier for people to access rights that they've been entitled to." To register, a couple would need to certify the partners are in an exclusive relationship. They must be 18 years of age or older, live in Victoria and be unmarried. "The register enables couples who want the dignity of formal recognition of their loving relationship to register it, and to have the security of knowing that their decision to commit to a shared life with each other is respected in Victoria," Hulls added. Couples may be required to provide evidence to prove their relationship in medical emergencies or when a partner dies and leaves no will or in cases of life insurance benefits. "The Relationships Register will offer conclusive proof of a relationship with one certificate," Hulls said. On Friday, the Australian Capital Territory it would revive plans to enact civil union legislation. Twice before the territorial government passed civil unions legislation only to see the laws voided by the federal government of Prime Minister John Howard. Howard said the legislation violated a ban on gay marriage in Australia that was enacted by the federal Parliament in 2004. Howard's Liberals suffered a crushing defeat at the polls last month to the opposition Labor Party led by Kevin Rudd. Rudd's government has indicated it would not oppose either the ACT or the Victorian legislation.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 5th December 2007 - 10:57am