On April 2nd, the Melbourne City Council launched a relationship register that will allow same-sex and mixed-sex couples formal recognition of their relationship. Premier Steve Bracks has asked Victorian Attorney-General Rob hulls to look into the possibility of expanding the relationship register to the rest of the state. The possibility of registration is viewed by many gay rights groups as a step forward, though many have also criticized the Premier for stating opposition to marriage rights even as he appears open to progress.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national secretary Peter Furness said, ‘Steve Bracks insults us and does us no service by using the announcement of formal consideration of a registration scheme to continue to argue that same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry… Steve Bracks should be describing the scheme as a step towards full equality, not the most we should be permitted…As former Family Court Chief Justice, Alistair Nicholson, recently said, ‘settling for the second best option will only prolong discrimination”.
Victoria seems to be considering a system of registry similar to that in place in Tasmania whose system provides registered same-sex couples with the right to adopt children they care for or are related to. John Kloprogge, spokesperson for Victorian human rights group Civil Union Action! Called for the following: ‘a scheme that will give them [same-sex couples] identical rights and recognition as married couples for the purposes of Victorian law… [and] the option of a legally-recognised ceremony. If same-sex couples cannot have their unions publicly solemnified, they are effectively invisible’.
Currently, the WA and the ACT grant parenting rights to same-sex families, while Tasmanian laws recognizes parenting rights for those who register their relationship. The NT and Queensland have limited recognition.
