The national lobby group for same-sex marriage has welcomed a proposed Queensland civil union law but said it is not a substitute for allowing same-sex marriages under federal law.
Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, said a civil union may provide greater legal security for partners but it cannot provide equality.
“Civil unions create a separate and unequal status for same-sex partners and do nothing to end our exclusion from the benefits and recognition associated with marriage”, Mr Greenwich said.
“Civil unions at a state level can provide couples with greater legal security, but we staunchly oppose any such scheme nationally where marriage legislation already exists and where an alternative scheme for same-sex couples would simply entrench discrimination.”
Current Labor Party policy, which is set to be debated at the ALP National Conference in December, rules out same-sex marriage but supports state-based recognition schemes instead.
Civil unions already exist in Tasmania, Victoria, NSW and the ACT.
Like the ACT and Tasmania, the proposed Queensland scheme would allow for an official ceremony. Like Tasmania it would potentially recognise interstate and overseas civil unions and same-sex marriages.
A map of Australia’s civil union schemes is included below. An interactive version can be found by scrolling to the bottom of the AME homepage: www.australianmarriageequality.org
For more information contact Alex Greenwich on 0421 316 335.
