What do Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Intersex people want?
Equality, equality, equality!
Since our inception as a political party in 1977, the Australian Democrats have championed the cause of gay, lesbian and bisexual people and more recently, that of transgender people and those with intersex conditions.
We believe that all relationships should be treated equally and that people in same-sex relationships and their children should be able to access the same range of benefits available to those in opposite-sex relationships.
In areas such as superannuation, industrial relations, taxation, immigration, welfare, access to the family court, public service entitlements including within the Federal Police and the defence forces, same-sex couples do not have the same rights as other couples.
When it comes to legislative change in the Senate, the Australian Democrats are the only party to have consistently moved amendments, advocated and voted for equal rights for GLBTI people, and we’ve been doing it for nearly three decades.
Download our Action Plan for the rights of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Intersex people [pdf]
Same-Sex: Same Entitlements!
Twenty thousand same-sex couples in Australia experience systematic discrimination on a daily basis. This must end. The Australian Democrats have introduced the Same-Sex: Same Entitlements Bill 2007, which if enacted would end the discrimination.
Australia’s anti-gay laws are inconsistent with our obligations under international law. The Democrats bill would remove from Australian laws provisions that encourage or allow discrimination against same-sex couples. These changes are long overdue.
Same-sex couples and their families are denied basic financial and work-related entitlements available to opposite-sex couples and their families. We’re not asking for special privileges — just equality. |
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Same-sex couples are not guaranteed the right to take carer’s leave to look after a sick partner. They have to spend more money on medical expenses than opposite-sex couples to enjoy the Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme safety nets. And they are denied a wide range of tax concessions available to opposite-sex couples.
The same-sex partner of a federal government employee is denied access to certain superannuation and workers’ compensation death benefits available to an opposite-sex partner, and the same-sex partner of a defence force veteran is denied a range of pensions and concessions available to an opposite-sex partner. Older same-sex couples will generally pay more than opposite-sex couples when entering aged care facilities.
The discrimination affects not only the members of same-sex couples themselves but also their children. According to HREOC, approximately 20 per cent of lesbian couples and 5 per cent of gay couples in Australia are raising children. The financial disadvantages imposed on same-sex parents will inevitably have an impact on their children.
More than 70 per cent of Australians would like to see these discriminatory laws changed. Legislators in other countries have woken up to the inhumanity of maintaining laws that malign their gay and lesbian constituents. It’s time for us to do the same. Let’s move out of this moral shadow-land.
On 16 August 2007, following the decision of all Coalition Senators to block a formal Senate inquiry into the Same-Sex: Same Entitlements Bill 2007, Democrats Senators established an ad hoc committee to inquire into the provisions of the Bill, including the cost of implementing the Bill if it were to be enacted.
The Parliamentary Inquiry into the Provisions of the Same-Sex: Same Entitlements Bill 2007 tabled its report, Entitled to Equality, in the Senate on 20 September 2007. The report and submissions are available here.
Download the report
For more information on the Bill or the inquiry please call Senator Lyn Allison's electoral office on 03 9416 1880.
Our record
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lobbied for and supported the lifting of a ban against gay men and lesbians in the military |
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successfully amended industrial relations law to prohibit discrimination in the workplace on the grounds of sexual orientation |
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were pivotal in bringing about the introduction of an interdependency category to allow a direct immigration opportunity for same-sex couples and opposed the Howard Government’s downgrading and capping of this immigration category |
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voted to overturn Tasmania’s anti-gay laws |
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moved for the removal of gender specific language in all legislation and regulations |
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supported and continue to achieve same-sex couple recognition at State and Federal levels |
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introduced the Sexuality and Gender Identity Discrimination Bill in 1995 to outlaw discrimination, harassment and vilification, and equalise same-sex relationships. |
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initiated the first national inquiry into sexuality and gender status discrimination in 1996 |
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were the first party to adopt a comprehensive GLBTI policy |
In the meantime, please read our latest press releases on sexuality and visit our Carter Network website.
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