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: JURIST - The Paper Chase

Australia senate passes bills giving equal rights to same-sex couples

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

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[JURIST] The Australian Senate on Monday approved legislation that would allow same-sex couples to enjoy most of the same rights as heterosexual couples, but would not give same-sex couples the right to marry. The Senate passed both a General Law Reform bill and a Superannuation bill, which will amend federal laws to provide same-sex couples with equal rights. The new legislation would redefine a "de facto relationship" to include same-sex couples and would give them equal rights in terms of taxation, health care, adoption, and other areas. The bills must now go before the House of Representatives where they are expected to pass. The Canberra Times has local coverage. In April, the Australian government announced plans to end discrimination against same-sex couples in response to a 2007 report by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, recommending legislative changes to 58 federal laws to end discrimination against same-sex couples. A national poll released in June 2007 found that a majority of Australians also support same-sex marriage.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on November 25, 2008 (boomark / email).