MEDIA RELEASE: ACT to have same-sex ceremonies; other states must follow
MEDIA RELEASE: ACT to have same-sex ceremonies; other states must follow
Civil Union Action! (CUA)
http://www.cuaction.org
ACT to have same-sex ceremonies; other states must follow
For Immediate Release: 4 May 2008
Human rights group, Civil Union Action! (CUA) has said the outcome of negotiations between the Rudd federal government and the Stanhope ACT government – which will allow official ceremonies for same-sex couples on adminstrative, not legislative, terms – now puts the focus on all other states to introduce similar schemes.
Negotiations concluded today resulting in a demand by the federal government that the ACT amend its original Civil Partnerships Bill to remove all references to a ceremony, or risk an override. The amended bill will go before the ACT legislative assembly next week. But same-sex couples will still have the option of an official ceremony, supervised and administered by the ACT Registrar-General or her delegate.
Civil Union Action! (CUA) remains disappointed the ACT was prohibited from enacting the laws it wants and which territorians support, but welcomes the opportunity for optional ceremonies and the pressure the proposals will put on other states to introduce similar schemes. CUA spokesperson John Kloprogge said the Rudd Government, and state governments, have long sought national consistency in same-sex laws.
"Same-sex couples in the national capital will soon be able to have the first official same-sex ceremonies in Australia. But if Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and state governments want national consistency in relationship laws – as has been their stated aim – then it requires that all states now provide a formal scheme with administrative ceremonies for same-sex couples."
"The ACT Government has now raised the bar on the legal recognition of same-sex relationships. It's up to states with no relationship scheme to introduce one, and states with a register to allow administrative ceremonies."
"The Rudd federal government went to extreme lengths to stop same-sex couples having official ceremonies. Fortunately, though, the ACT's scheme remains a benchmark for other states, showing where they must improve," Mr Kloprogge concluded.
The federal government also demanded the addition of residency requirement to the bill, meaning at least one partner to the couple must be an ACT resident. The ACT Attorney-General's office says the precise manner in which ceremonies are to be regulated will be developed in coming weeks.
***
Media contact:
John Kloprogge 0422 913 942 cuaction@hotmail.com
Civil Union Action! (CUA)
http://www.cuaction.org
ACT to have same-sex ceremonies; other states must follow
For Immediate Release: 4 May 2008
Human rights group, Civil Union Action! (CUA) has said the outcome of negotiations between the Rudd federal government and the Stanhope ACT government – which will allow official ceremonies for same-sex couples on adminstrative, not legislative, terms – now puts the focus on all other states to introduce similar schemes.
Negotiations concluded today resulting in a demand by the federal government that the ACT amend its original Civil Partnerships Bill to remove all references to a ceremony, or risk an override. The amended bill will go before the ACT legislative assembly next week. But same-sex couples will still have the option of an official ceremony, supervised and administered by the ACT Registrar-General or her delegate.
Civil Union Action! (CUA) remains disappointed the ACT was prohibited from enacting the laws it wants and which territorians support, but welcomes the opportunity for optional ceremonies and the pressure the proposals will put on other states to introduce similar schemes. CUA spokesperson John Kloprogge said the Rudd Government, and state governments, have long sought national consistency in same-sex laws.
"Same-sex couples in the national capital will soon be able to have the first official same-sex ceremonies in Australia. But if Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and state governments want national consistency in relationship laws – as has been their stated aim – then it requires that all states now provide a formal scheme with administrative ceremonies for same-sex couples."
"The ACT Government has now raised the bar on the legal recognition of same-sex relationships. It's up to states with no relationship scheme to introduce one, and states with a register to allow administrative ceremonies."
"The Rudd federal government went to extreme lengths to stop same-sex couples having official ceremonies. Fortunately, though, the ACT's scheme remains a benchmark for other states, showing where they must improve," Mr Kloprogge concluded.
The federal government also demanded the addition of residency requirement to the bill, meaning at least one partner to the couple must be an ACT resident. The ACT Attorney-General's office says the precise manner in which ceremonies are to be regulated will be developed in coming weeks.
***
Media contact:
John Kloprogge 0422 913 942 cuaction@hotmail.com
posted by CUAction at 5:17 PM
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