Rights lobby welcomes draft Civil Unions Bill
For immediate release: 13 August 2006
The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (VGLRL) has welcomed consultation on a draft Victorian Civil Unions Bill. The Bill was drafted for independent MP Andrew Olexander by a former chief parliamentary counsel, Rowena Armstrong.
Mr Olexander plans to introduce the Bill as a private members bill later this year. The Civil Unions Bill replicates a similar one enacted by the ACT parliament earlier this year, but overturned by the Howard Government.
“The VGLRL welcomes Mr Olexander’s initiative,” said VGLRL spokesperson Gerard Brody.
“We will review the draft in detail and provide feedback to Mr Olexander,” said VGLRL spokesperson Gerard Brody. “The proposed bill looks promising on a first read. It enables couples, same-sex or mixed-sex, to enter into a legally recognised union through a celebrant, and receive a certificate.”
“A law for the formal recognition of same-sex relationships should also allow domestic partners recognized under the 2001 reforms (that is, a de facto couple), to register their existing relationship. This would be additional to the ability to enter into civil unions.”
The VGLRL will ask the major parties to seriously consider the draft Bill. “The Government says that civil unions are not on its legislative agenda. But they should be on next year’s. We hope that the draft Bill will encourage the Government to get working on civil unions for Victoria,” said Mr Brody.
“The Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities shows that the Victorian Government is committed to human rights, which, as Parliament stated in the Charter, ‘belong to all people without discrimination.’ The Government recognized same-sex couples in 2001. Mr Bracks is right to be proud of that. Now it’s time to complete that reform and give lesbians and gay men the power to choose formal recognition, and celebration, without discrimination,” he said.
For further information, contact Gerard Brody on 0417 484 438.
For immediate release: 13 August 2006
The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (VGLRL) has welcomed consultation on a draft Victorian Civil Unions Bill. The Bill was drafted for independent MP Andrew Olexander by a former chief parliamentary counsel, Rowena Armstrong.
Mr Olexander plans to introduce the Bill as a private members bill later this year. The Civil Unions Bill replicates a similar one enacted by the ACT parliament earlier this year, but overturned by the Howard Government.
“The VGLRL welcomes Mr Olexander’s initiative,” said VGLRL spokesperson Gerard Brody.
“We will review the draft in detail and provide feedback to Mr Olexander,” said VGLRL spokesperson Gerard Brody. “The proposed bill looks promising on a first read. It enables couples, same-sex or mixed-sex, to enter into a legally recognised union through a celebrant, and receive a certificate.”
“A law for the formal recognition of same-sex relationships should also allow domestic partners recognized under the 2001 reforms (that is, a de facto couple), to register their existing relationship. This would be additional to the ability to enter into civil unions.”
The VGLRL will ask the major parties to seriously consider the draft Bill. “The Government says that civil unions are not on its legislative agenda. But they should be on next year’s. We hope that the draft Bill will encourage the Government to get working on civil unions for Victoria,” said Mr Brody.
“The Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities shows that the Victorian Government is committed to human rights, which, as Parliament stated in the Charter, ‘belong to all people without discrimination.’ The Government recognized same-sex couples in 2001. Mr Bracks is right to be proud of that. Now it’s time to complete that reform and give lesbians and gay men the power to choose formal recognition, and celebration, without discrimination,” he said.
For further information, contact Gerard Brody on 0417 484 438.
