New Oz PM: No Gay Marriage, Civil Unions

New Oz PM: No Gay Marriage, Civil Unions

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: December 17, 2007 - 1:00 pm ET
(Sydney, Australia) Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says his government will look at introducing a bill to create a national domestic partner registry but has no intention of legalizing same-sex marriage or allowing civil unions.
Rudd was reacting to press reports on the weekend that claimed some cabinet ministers had told LGBT leaders that a civil union bill was being written.
The Australian Capital Territory recently resurrected legislation rejected by the former federal government to allow civil unions in the territory and Rudd has said his Labor government would not intervene.
Rudd said Monday that gay and lesbian couples need protections, but on a national level he would not support same-sex marriage or civil partnerships.
"Our position has always been that marriage is between a man and a woman, and therefore that always will form the cornerstone of our view on these matters.
In 2004 former Prime Minister John Howard's Liberal government passed legislation limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples.
Rudd said Monday that he has no intention of repealing the law. Instead, the Prime Minister said he prefers a domestic partner registry.
"A relationships register, nationally consistent of the type we've had in Tasmania since 2004 and of the type of which the Victorian Government has recently proposed, we believe is a positive and productive way forward."
Rudd said the government would work on the legislation over the next 12 months.
It is expected to include both same-ex couples and opposite-sex couples who opt not to marry. Couples would register their relationships and receive guarantees in health, pension and inheritance.
Rudd's position reiterates that of his party during last month's election which saw the defeat of the Liberals under Howard.
©365Gay.com 2007