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ENTSCH DEMANDS LEGAL RIGHTS FOR GAY COUPLES The Australian (New South Wales, Australia), News by Samantha Maiden (Political correspondent) [Additional reporting: Australian Associated Press [AAP]], 14/08/2006 News.com.au (New South Wales, Australia), News by Samantha Maiden (Source: The Australian) [Additional reporting: Australian Associated Press [AAP]], 14/08/2006 |
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QUEENSLAND Liberal backbencher Warren Entsch is set to reignite the debate over legal discrimination against gays and lesbians after finalising draft legislation to deliver equality to same-sex couples.
Challenging John Howard to remove all forms of legal discrimination over welfare, superannuation and Medicare, Mr Entsch confirmed yesterday he would consult Coalition MPs this week over his private member's bill. A former crocodile farmer, Mr Entsch remains an unlikely warrior for gay rights, but has secured the support of MPs on both sides of politics including rebel Liberal backbenchers Petro Georgiou and Judi Moylan. He said yesterday a "Russian bride" procured over the internet would have more rights to welfare and superannuation than a long-term gay partner. "At this point I am wanting to remove all legal discriminations," he said yesterday. "For example, if I am a veteran and come back from Iraq or Afghanistan and am suffering from a range of battlefield-related disorders, my wife is entitled to a pension. If I decided I wanted to invest in a wife from Russia, she would be entitled to my pension. However, if I had a homosexual partner for 15 years, I would come back having served with distinction and when I did he wouldn't be entitled to a cracker." Mr Entsch said gay couples encountered discrimination over eligibility for the Medicare safety net, superannuation and welfare. "But this is not about looking for extra financial benefits for same-sex couples," he said. "If you go to Centrelink in a same-sex relationship they will only pay you as a single. In that respect, those in same-sex relationships are worse off." |
Mr Entsch has written to all federal MPs saying he was "alarmed to discover the extent of the discrimination that exists in federal government legislation".
His campaign for an end to legal discrimination against gays and lesbians has secured the support of Treasurer Peter Costello, who remains an opponent of gay marriage. The Prime Minister confirmed the Government's decision in June to overrule the ACT's civil unions for same-sex couples, but said he would support moves to remove legal discrimination. In Perth, gay and lesbian protesters yesterday urged Mr Howard to remove discrimination against same-sex couples. "De facto couples in Western Australia have no way of proving their relationship, for example, in a medical emergency," protest convener Rod Swift said. Meanwhile, government MPs face a divisive debate on embryonic stem-cell use at a special partyroom meeting. Neuroscientist Peter Schofield, who was a member of the Lockhart review committee, urged Mr Howard to allow another conscience vote. "It is a difficult and emotionally charged area, and I think this was one of the dilemmas we had as a committee: that there are many different people saying different things, one group saying ban it, another group saying we need this immediately," he told the Ten Network.
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