DISCRIMINATION against gay couples in federal laws will continue for months, after the Opposition last night vowed to delay any changes until all the proposed reforms are put before the Parliament.
After an emotionally charged debate last night, the House of Representatives passed laws to give gays and lesbians the right to inherit their partner's public sector superannuation or death benefits.
But the Coalition will use its Senate majority to send the bill to an inquiry that will consider giving the same rights to other interdependent couples.
It also flagged that it would not support making such changes until it sees all of the same-sex reform bills proposed by Labor.
Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson last night gave in-principle support to the reforms to end discrimination against gay couples, but warned that undermining marriage may be a consequence of passing such laws.
Dr Nelson said any delay was the responsibility of the Government — not his party. "It is more important that this be done properly, than it be done immediately," he said.
Labor MP Shane Neumann insisted the changes would not undermine the special place of marriage but merely gave gay partners the same entitlements to payments.
"The God that I worship at my church I don't think is offended in the least bit by the fact of this legislation," he said.
Liberal MP Stuart Robert warned that by replacing references to a "marital relationship" with a "couple relationship" in the super laws, it may "slowly chip away at the institution of marriage".
He also opposed moves in the bill to give inheritance rights to the children of a non-biological gay parent, arguing it would support the practice of gay IVF.
And he asserted that "health insurance funds should not be legally bound to recognise homosexual couples and children as families — some funds may have an ethical objection to this and they should retain the right to uphold their views as to what constitutes marriage and family life."
Labor MP Arch Bevis accused Dr Nelson of opting to "pander to that more extreme right-wing conservative group behind him on the Opposition benches" by refusing to pass the laws quickly.
Queensland Labor MP Graham Perrett urged the Parliament not to deprive same-sex couples of their entitlements "for one minute more than is necessary". He told of his two gay brothers, Nick and Simon, who had found it difficult to come out in a small country town.
"I hope that one day my darling brother Nick will be the beneficiary of the changes before the House," he said.
Shadow treasurer Malcolm Turnbull hit back at critics who accuse the Coalition of delaying the end of discrimination, arguing the Government was free to backdate the laws to whenever it chose.
"That would ensure that those people who are concerned that they might die or their partner might die before this becomes the law of the land, that concern can be set aside and the Parliament can focus on getting the legislation right," he said.
"So let's stop the suggestion that the Liberal Party is homophobic."
[Link: Original Article]
No comments:
Post a Comment