Yay Tassie! Legal reform of "relationship" laws.

[reprise]

Tassie reforms relationship laws (http://www.dogwomble.worfie.net/articles/tasrel.shtml)

Under the proposed reforms, gay and lesbian couples, elderly couples in close but not necessarily sexual relationships, partnerships recognised under Aboriginal or ethnic customs, plus carers and those they care for, will be among those granted the same rights as married or de facto heterosexual partners.

The revised laws would cover a range of rights including property transfers, child maintenance, organ donation, guardianship, access to a partner in hospital, superannuation, funerals, wills; and various parenting, family and carer leave entitlements.

I've been wanting to post this since Saturday, but couldn't find online confirmation of the story until now.

Way to go Tassie - now let's hope the rest of Australia quickly follows your example.


::happy dance::

[Tony]

What is Tassie?

[reprise]

Tasmania is Australia's island state, and for a very long time a bastion of arch conservatism.

[Reaver]

Way to go Tassie - now let's hope the rest of Australia quickly follows your example.

Doesn't NSW recognise same-sex defacto relationships?

[reprise]

Originally posted by Reaver


Doesn't NSW recognise same-sex defacto relationships?

Sydney City Council operates a "relationship register" and in long-standing gay relationships NSW courts have sometimes recognised property rights, but as the law currently stands same-sex relationships do not have the same status as defacto heterosexual relationships. It's possible to protect many of the interests of a same-sex partner, but it's not something which happens automatically after the relationship has reached a certain duration. There is no legal recognition of "this relationship trumps all others" which even comes close to the legal supremacy extended to a spouse (this will still be true in respect of the Commonwealth, even when Tasmania passes its legislation).

I think that extended legal recognition of same-sex relationships is something which was already on its way anyway - it's the extension of legal rights to other relationships which is truly ground-breaking. In essence, an individual will be able to state "I want person X to have all the legal rights which would be extended to a spouse" and state law will recognise that wish. I love the fact that it's being extended to the "longtime companion" relationships which people often form in their elderly years - such relationships have long been undervalued in Australian society.

[Reaver]

Thanks for the info Reprise.