Coalition bows on super for gay couples
THE Coalition has relented to pressure and will grant to gay and lesbian couples the same rights on Commonwealth public sector superannuation as heterosexual couples.
Malcolm Turnbull, who is under considerable political pressure from the sizeable gay community in his seat of Wentworth, flagged the changes in a speech to a gay and lesbian business leaders function last night. They will be confirmed today.
While the Coalition will not grant gay couples de facto status, or adopt any of the other 58 recommendations outlined in a human rights report in June, it will allow, if re-elected, interdependent gay couples to share each other’s public pensions and super benefits – as heterosexual couples do.
It will apply across the Commonwealth public service, ranging from judges, politicians to public servants and the military.
Labor has already promised to institute all 58 changes, saying it was unfair to discriminate financially against people on the basis of them being gay.
In 2004 such discrimination was abolished in relation to private sector superannuation.
Jim Challis, a former ABC employee who has been campaigning for the reform with the lobby group CompSuper Action Committee, welcomed the change of heart. “This is very good news and long overdue,” he said.
Mr Turnbull said it was a very substantial reform that affected thousands of people and “will in a practical and material way remove this form of discrimination against same-sex couples”.
Before the election was called, cabinet was split on whether to extend to gay couples the same legal and financial rights as heterosexual couples. The Christian lobby is opposed to any such measure, claiming it legitimises gay unions. Granting the rights to gay couples does not legalise same-sex marriage, which both major parties oppose.
The issue was first highlighted in June when the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission published a report finding same-sex couples were discriminated against in 58 areas of financial and work-related entitlements.
The High Court’s Justice Michael Kirby spoke out. He wanted the law to be changed so that his partner of 38 years, Johan van Vloten, could have access to a part-pension payable for life, should Justice Kirby die first.
Under current law, if a retired judge in a heterosexual relationship dies before his or her partner, the partner is entitled to 62.5 per cent of the judge’s pension. But Mr van Vloten would not receive anything because he is not female.
Mr Turnbull was unsuccessful in pushing the changes through cabinet and further deliberation was postponed until after the election. But with Mr Turnbull in trouble in his seat, and his Labor rival, George Newhouse, supporting the change, the Coalition has made the promise now.
Source: smh.com.au