Terminally ill cancer patient Patrick and his partner Mitchell, who waited nearly a year for Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s office to respond to letters calling for them to be allowed to marry before Patrick dies, have finally received a response — but from the wrong person.

The couple contacted the Star Observer after sending three letters to Gillard’s office. The first letter was sent in in November 2010.

In an August 10 2011 front-page story, a media advisor for Gillard said the couple should expect a reply “in coming weeks”.