Gay and lesbian relationships would be legally recognised on an official register of civil partnerships under laws being considered by the WA Nationals.
A draft Civil Partnerships Bill would not go as far as allowing gay marriage, which is under Federal jurisdiction, but it would permit gay and lesbian couples to formalise their relationships legally and register them with the Office of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
The draft Bill, seen by The Weekend West and prepared for Upper House Nationals MP Mia Davies, defines a civil partnership as a legally recognised relationship between two adults, regardless of their sex.
A person wishing to enter into a civil partnership would apply to the Registrar of the Office of Births, Deaths and Marriages with a statutory declaration stating their wish to do so, that they were not married or already in a civil partnership and that they were not a lineal descendant, ancestor, sister, brother, half-sister or half-brother of their partner.
A civil partnership could be terminated if one or both partners wrote to the registrar after 12 months, or could be ended by order of the Family Court. The death or marriage of one partner would also terminate a civil partnership.
The draft Bill also contains provision for the creation of civil partnership “notaries”, who could effectively act as celebrants for civil partnership ceremonies.
For the full report, click here
For a further report, click here
For the latest on civil partnerships in the Republic of Ireland, click here