The newly-elected Federal Government may soon face its first test on LGBT law reform when ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope reintroduces a version of its civil unions bill. “We have a clear mandate in government to support reform,” Stanhope told ABC Radio after the election. “We will reinvigorate that, we will re-introduce civil union legislation.”
The Howard Government twice blocked earlier reform bills saying the ACT scheme’s insistence on a ceremonial component made it “too much like marriage”. It is unknown whether the ACT will abandon the ceremonies to win the approval of the new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Rudd would be faced with a “real dilemma” if the ACT insists on keeping ceremonies, according to LGBT advocate Rodney Croome.
“Rudd has stated directly and specifically that he will not support a civil unions scheme that includes a ceremony. Mind you, he also supports co-operative federalism, so it will be a real dilemma for him,” Croome told Queensland Pride. While in opposition Federal Labor had supported the right of the ACT to pass its own laws.
The Victorian Government has also promised to introduce a relationship registration scheme, which is likely to go before parliament early in 2008. Civil Union Action (CUA) spokesperson John Kloprogge said that since the election of the “potentially less conservative” Rudd Government there was now “no reason to deny loving couples a ceremony option. Ceremonies provide social recognition, which fosters inclusiveness and respect.”
The newly-elected Federal Government may soon face its first test on LGBT law reform when ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope reintroduces a version of its civil unions bill. “We have a clear mandate in government to support reform,” Stanhope told ABC Radio after the election. “We will reinvigorate that, we will re-introduce civil union legislation.”
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