Labor gets ‘big tick’ at policy forum

Labor’s election platform for gay and lesbian law reform was well received at a public forum of more than 50 people at ACON last week.
Federal shadow attorney-general Senator Joe Ludwig gave commitments to scrap interdependency laws and replace them with full de facto recognition for same-sex couples.
Heckling was reserved for the party’s as-yet-unannounced preference deals, rather than the same-sex marriage ban that dogged MPs Tanya Plibersek and Anthony Albanese during the 2004 campaign.
Ludwig also said the states would eventually come around to supporting Labor’s policy of nationally consistent relationship registries.
“We’ve already got Tasmania, and Victoria are looking at it,” he said.
The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby promised each party an independent assessment of its policies, with Labor’s de facto recognition praised.
“It’s a good policy of comprehensive reform in an omnibus way, and it’s not interdependency. That’s definitely a big tick,” Lobby spokesman Ghassan Kassisieh said.
The Lobby has requested a 12 month phase-in for parts of the reforms such as social security, which would disadvantage some.
“I’m confident if they were elected we would be able to work with them on making sure the transition happens as smoothly as possible,” Kassisieh said.
The relationship registries received a partial tick for providing a certificate and access to government services. But the lack of a celebrant, witnesses or a ceremony in legislation meant they fell short of the public recognition the Lobby felt was necessary.
Labor has yet to confirm what form of anti-discrimination measures would be introduced to protect gay and lesbian people, though Ludwig said he was consulting widely.
Stevie Clayton told the forum she and the Lobby were working with volunteer lawyers to draft a bill for use by any of the political parties.