ABC News [New South Wales, Australia], News
by Divya Guha, 23/07/2007
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PARTIES SLAMMED OVER SAME-SEX RIGHTS ABC News [New South Wales, Australia], News by Divya Guha, 23/07/2007 |
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The authors of a new report into the legal rights of gays and lesbians have criticised both major political parties over the treatment of same-sex couples.
The report, overseen by the Australian National University's (ANU) Democratic Audit of Australia, has found same-sex couples still do not have the same rights as heterosexuals. Co-author Sarah Maddison says this means they do not have access to carers' leave to look after a sick partner, Medicare and PBS safety nets, or superannuation benefits. Doctor Maddison says the Government's position will not change, citing the overturning of the ACT's same sex laws last year. "The Federal Government has not been able to hold back the tide of public opinion," she said. |
"Nonetheless, this Federal Government clearly is not about to make change. We can only hope that a change of government at the federal level might see these areas addressed, although the Labor Party could be doing far more to make their position on these issues clear to the Australian public.
"The stand-out area that needs to be addressed at a federal level is the area of relationship recognition and then the full suite of entitlements that come with federal relationship recognition. "There are a number of remaining areas of inequality and discrimination."
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