The Australian Democrats have today reintroduced their comprehensive Bill to end discrimination against gay and lesbian people, and to legally recognise same-sex couples under Commonwealth law.
The Bill also offers protection from harassment and discrimination on the grounds of sexuality or gender identity.
Australian Democrats’ spokesperson for Attorney General and Justice, Senator Brian Greig, says Australia is one of very few western countries which does not have any national laws to prevent discrimination and harassment on these grounds.
“While all Australian States and Territories have largely ended this discrimination at a local level, the Commonwealth has failed to do so,” Senator Greig said.
“As a consequence, the Federal Government is the worst discriminator against gay and lesbian citizens.”
Discrimination against homosexual people remains a serious problem under Federal laws, including areas such as taxation arrangements, superannuation death benefits, defence force and public service entitlements, veterans affairs pensions, social security equity, industrial relations protections, and access to the Family Court.
“This long overdue legislation will introduce national laws to end social, legal and financial discrimination against homosexual, transgender and intersex citizens, and will treat long term same-sex relationships in the same way as married and de facto couples,” Senator Greig said.
Recent high profile debates about superannuation and same-sex couples, ignore the fact that this form of discrimination is much more widespread than just superannuation, and that comprehensive legislation is needed to end all discrimination against same-sex couples and their families right across all Commonwealth laws.
“The Democrats have been urging this law reform since 1995, and while the States and Territories have done as much as they can, Federal reform is also needed to eradicate national discrimination,” Senator Greig said.
Unlike Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Britain all have national laws to address discrimination against gay and lesbian people.
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