Late last month Melbourne City Council gave in-principle support to the establishment of a Relationships Declaration Register that would enable Melbourne couples of both mixed-sex and same-sex to formally declare their relationship.

While the register won’t confer legal rights in the way traditional marriage does, it may be used to demonstrate the existence of a de facto relationship in relation to the Property Laws Act 1958, the Administration and Probate Act 1958 and other legislation involving domestic patnerships.

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Deputy Lord Mayor Gary Singer said Australia’s Marriage Act (1961) only recognised the union between man and woman to the exclusion of all others.

‘Unlike a traditional wedding ceremony, this register would allow all couples to formally declare their union,â? the Deputy Lord Mayor said.

‘Council is committed to the development of an inclusive and engaging city and this proposal further cements this commitment.

‘This is just the first step toward social equality for all relationships – it is now up to the State and federal Governments to introduce legislation that will provide for official recognition of civil partnerships,â? he said.

WA’s Gay and Lesbian Equality have welcomed the push and would support any local government in WA creating a register for couples, but would like to take the register one step further.

�What Melbourne has done is great, but it would be a far better for our state government to run a register of civil partnerships,� GALE spokesperson Rod Swift told OUTinPerth.

‘This would mean that anyone in the state, no matter where they lived, would have access to a relationship register.â?

In the same way as Tasmania has done, we strongly believe the Carpenter Labor Government should legislate to expand the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in WA to offer such a service to any WA couple who wishes to register a civil partnership.

Councillor Fraser Brindley said Council would further consider the format and operation of the register at February’s Community Services Committee.

‘Ultimately it is up to the State and Federal Governments to take action in establishing legal equality ‘ however in light of their continuing inaction, we want to ensure this register is a legitimate, respected and recognised way for couples of both same and mixed sex to formally declare their union,â? Cr Brindley said.     

The February Community Services Committee will consider the administration of the Relationships Declaration Register including legal implications, policy and procedures and the ongoing maintenance of the register.

Countries that have adopted, or are working towards, recognising a range of relationships (other than by marriage) include France, Germany, Spain, South Africa, Mexico, Canada and Britain. Parts of the United States have also introduced broader recognition of relationships.

In Australia, Tasmania has adopted legislation recognising a variety of relationships and the City of Sydney has established a relationships declaration register, similar to the one proposed by the City of Melbourne. So far in WA no such moves have been proposed.