Meanwhile in Australia
Nov. 6th, 2008 08:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamer_easyJust recently (14 October) the Senate's Inquiry into the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—General Law Reform) Bill 2008 has recommended passage of the Bill.
And on 16 October, the Senate passed the Family Law Amendment (De Facto Financial Matters and Other
Measures) Bill 2008 (although technical stuff means it'll have to go round once more before becoming law).
Basically, in Australia, gay marriage per se is not on the agenda, but IIUC correctly the laws which cover de facto straight couples are being changed to cover same sex couples as well. This addresses what is IMHO the crux of the issue: citizens who are expected to pay the same tax as everyone else, but are not entitled to the same rights and benefits as everyone else.
And on 16 October, the Senate passed the Family Law Amendment (De Facto Financial Matters and Other
Measures) Bill 2008 (although technical stuff means it'll have to go round once more before becoming law).
Basically, in Australia, gay marriage per se is not on the agenda, but IIUC correctly the laws which cover de facto straight couples are being changed to cover same sex couples as well. This addresses what is IMHO the crux of the issue: citizens who are expected to pay the same tax as everyone else, but are not entitled to the same rights and benefits as everyone else.
