ALP call to unite on gay reforms
ATTORNEY-GENERAL Robert McClelland hopes to reach a consensus with the Liberal Opposition on removing discrimination against gays and lesbians from all commonwealth legislation.
And he will meet his ACT counterpart, Simon Corbell, tomorrow to discuss the gay civil union laws being promised by the ACT Government, and will ask the territory for co-operation in developing a national standard on civil partnerships.
Mr McClelland said he wanted to reach a bipartisan position on removing all discrimination against gays, after Liberal leader Brendan Nelson indicated he wished to change his party’s position on the issue.
ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope will write to Kevin Rudd to discuss civil unions as well as other territory issues.
“I am in the process of obtaining advice as to the appropriate amendments that would remove discriminatory provisions from commonwealth legislation and statutory instruments,” Mr McClelland said yesterday.
“It is important this is done in a methodical and systematic way. There, in fact, appears to be more pieces of legislation than (the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission) identified in June that may potentially require amendment.”
Mr McClelland said he would be consulting where appropriate.
“It is quite clear that while there is an important matter of principle involved, there will be some who may benefit financially and equally there will be others who will potentially lose government entitlements or may face additional taxation obligations,” he said.
“Given recent statements by the new Leader of the Opposition, we will endeavour to achieve a bipartisan consensus to effect appropriate amendments.”
Dr Nelson has said he supports tackling economic and social inequality for gay couples but remains opposed to gay marriage, adoption and IVF services.
Mr McClelland said he would sit down with Mr Corbell tomorrow to seek the ACT’s co-operation in developing a national standard to apply to all civil partnerships.
“I haven’t seen the text of what he’s proposing, but I’ll certainly be putting to him that it’s in everyone’s interest there’s a nationally consistent standard,” he said.
“In this area it’s unseemly for there to be effectively tourism based on what state or territory has more lenient or differing registration or ceremonial processes. I don’t think that is a desirable way we should approach the issue.”
The Australian Christian Lobby said the ACT push to support gay couples went against the federal Labor Government’s election commitments and ALP policy.
“Mr Stanhope and his Government seem prepared to break with the will of the people and the policy resolutions of their own party in order to fulfil a radical social-engineering agenda,” said ACL chief Jim Wallace.
“This is an article of faith for the new federal Labor Government. It has committed itself not to support civil unions or anything that mimics marriage, and we expect it to honour its commitment.”
The ALP national conference had passed a resolution in April supporting state-based relationship registration only, Mr Wallace said.
But Mr Stanhope said the conference decision applied only to the ALP’s agenda in federal parliament, not the ACT.
Mr Wallace accused Mr Stanhope of leading the way in breaking down the meaning of family in Australia.
“In 2004, his Government passed laws to allow children placed up for adoption to be given to same-sex couples, thereby denying them the right to a mother and a father.
“He is now obviously hoping his agenda, to undermine the special status of marriage in society as being between a man and a woman, will have national repercussions too.”
Source: theaustralian.news.com.au