Prime Minister,
Why has the Government not carried out the findings of the Human Rights Commission into Same-Sex couples?
The Government has received serveral submissions from the HRC on this issue, however nothing has progressed on this subject.
The HRC found two key areas of Commonwealth Law, where change needed to occur to keep Australia within its UN international Human Rights Conventions.
1) A change to the Discrimination Act. to make it unlawful to discriminate against someone based on there sexuality, and being involved in a Same-Sex relationship.
The only change the Government was willing to make to the Discrimination Act was to include children of Gay & Lesbian parents. The HRC found that under International Human Rights Conventions, it was a breach not to protect ALL Australians against discrimination. The Government has had almost 2 years to make these changes to protect ALL Australians, but has failed to do so.
2) The second finding of HRC was for Commonwealth Law to make include one of the following;
a) A change to the Marriage Act to include Same-Sex couples
OR
b) A nationally consistent Civil Union Registry, which includes a official ceremony to publicly celebrate those relationships.
The HRC found that anything less, has a violation of International Human Rights conventions.
Currently only 2 states/territories have a Civil Union Registry for Same-Sex couples (ACT and Tasmania) Victoria and NSW have Relationship Registers for Same-Sex couples however, they don't include any provision for a ceremony.
I understand that the states have the power to provide Civil Unions ceremonies for Same-Sex couples. However this is not the case, I know in NSW Government they have said until the Federal Government changes there minds about Gay Marriage NSW's registry will not have provisions for ceremonies. After speaking to both your office and the Attorney General's office, they have said a change of ALL Commonwealth Discrimination Acts and Laws is on the cards for 2011. However then after the inquiries and senate committee meetings on the issue, a change to protect ALL Australians wouldn't be law for at least a year. A change needs to be make NOW to protect ALL Australians, which is the Government responsiblity to provide.
An amendment to the Discrimination Act needs to be drafted NOW, for when Parliament resumes. We can't wait another year for these changes!
Whether or not you support Marriage Equality, you MUST support a change that ensures ALL Australians are protected in Commonwealth Law against discrimination! Australia is the only Western nation not to have Civil Unions for Same-Sex couples, New Zealand since 2004, UK since 2004, Canada since 1999 and the list goes on.
Will the Government allow the following if not I would like a detailed reason why;
A conscience vote on Marriage Equality in the senate
A Civil Partnerships Bill to be introduced
As we are getting close to an election, these issues need some answers to give the people an informed choice on election day.
Mr Abbott has out and about a few weeks ago saying on radio, he supports Civil Unions for Same-Sex couples, and would welcome a Bill to make that happen. He also said this quote "conservatives must embrace Gay Unions", so I would hope the Labor party has some answers before election day. He also supports the changes required to the Discrimination Act.
Same-Sex couples deserve the rights to atleast a simple Civil Union ceremony, it doesn't mimic Marriage at all, its a totally different arrangment. You can't deny us the rights to Marriage, and also the rights to any other type of official ceremony to celebrate our relationships!!!
I appreciate your time, I can't even begin to imagine, how busy you all have been over the past few weeks.
I hope you take this seriously, becasue it's a real serious issue that needs attention NOW. It has been ignored by way too many Prime Ministers, I hope now with a more open-minded leader we can finally become a nation where ALL citizens have Equal rights to be happy and love without discrimation.
No comments:
Post a Comment