30 April 2008

The Queensland Association for Healthy Communities welcomes the announcement by Attorney General, Robert McClelland, that the Rudd Labor government will introduce legislation giving same sex de facto couples recognition under federal laws.

The announcement follows a review of same sex entitlements carried out by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and a ground swell of support from the gay and lesbian community and beyond.

Paul Martin, General Manager of QAHC said "recognition of de facto same sex couples is long overdue and we congratulate the Rudd labor government for honoring its pre-election commitment.

Introducing equality between same and opposite sex couples will relieve real stress and hardship currently faced by same sex couples and families."

QAHC now calls on the Queensland Government to introduce a civil partnerships registration scheme, similar to that in place in Tasmania and planned in Victoria, that would allow registered couples to be automatically treated as a de facto couple.