Something relatively unusual happened on the political landscape in WA in September, the National Party of WA at its State Conference, passed a motion supporting civil unions for same-sex couples.
The latest move follows a decision by the WA Nationals prior to the 2005 State Election not to support the WA Liberal Party’s policy to roll back gay and lesbian law reforms in WA.
WA’s Gay and Lesbian Equality has come in support of the WA National Party on passing the motion.
GALE Convenor Rod Swift said that the motion ‘ proposed by the WA Young Nationals ‘ shows that the debate about granting fairness and equality to same-sex couples has matured.
“This move by the National Party shows that there is an increasing level of support within the party to secure fairness and certainty for same-sex couples and their families,’ Mr Swift said.
“We welcome the Nationals’ mature debate on civil unions and their continued support for laws which support and protect a diverse range of families and relationships.”
WA Nationals’ leader Brendon Grylls confirmed that the party would take the policy to the next state election.
“There is a perception that the National Party is a party of farmers and this couldn’t be further from the truth, this a step along the journey to transform that perception. It’s now part of our policy,” he said.
Young Nationals WA President Darren Moir and executive member Michael Rose, who put the motion, called the vote a victory for equality.
“I was nervous. It’s not easy speaking on something like this to an audience where the majority of people are in their 60s,” Mr Rose said.
Mr Swift said there was a need for further relationship law reforms at a state level to protect non-marital relationships.
“Married couples can rely on their marriage certificate when asked by a business or government department to prove their relationship. De facto couples do not have this ability,” Mr Swift said.
“GALE believes it is time that Labor, the Greens, and the Nationals work together to pass new laws to allow all de facto couples ‘ both gay and straight ‘ to receive similar certification as proof of their relationships under our state’s laws,” Mr Swift said.
Interestingly, an 84 year old female National Party member spoke up in favour of the motion at the state conference stating that homosexuality was natural and people were born with it and we should get over it.
The Federal Australian Government has opposed same-sex marriage and recently quashed ACT legislation allowing homosexuals to make civil unions.
Since this article was written the National Party in other states, driven mainly by the Young Nationals, have also been looking at the issue.
