One of Australia's most senior former judges has urged the Rudd Federal Government to allow same-sex couples access to the federal Family Court, and to recognise state civil union registries in federal law. Professor Alastair Nicholson, former Chief Justice of the Family Court, has appealed to the Government on the eve of the introduction of reforms which will give equal financial and workplace entitlements to same-sex de facto partners. "As a long-time supporter of equal legal treatment for same-sex couples and their families, I want to see the Government's proposed reform remove as much discrimination as possible", Professor Nicholson said. "Like their heterosexual counterparts, same-sex partners should be able to settle property and maintenance disputes in the Family Court rather than be forced through the more cumbersome and expensive State Supreme Court system, as is currently the case." Nicholson says it is also important for the Government to give state and territory civil union registries full and equal status in federal law so that same-sex couples can access federal entitlements through these schemes. "The practical benefit is that such schemes allow easier and guaranteed access to relationship entitlements. The symbolic benefit is that the law should respect the decision of civil union partners to formalise their relationships."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 25th May 2008 - 11:27am