Gay rights advocates say they want to know if same-sex couples will qualify for the Rudd Government's proposed first home buyer tax break.
Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson, Rod Swift, said Federal Labor’s commitment to equality for same-sex partners in day-to-day legal and financial matters would be undermined if its proposed tax-reduced home-purchase scheme excluded gay couples.
"Same-sex partners face the same financial pressures as their heterosexual counterparts and share the same aspiration to own their own home," Swift said.
"The Rudd Government will betray these couples, and its own policy commitment, if the first home saver scheme is discriminatory. At the moment, tax law fails to recognise same-sex partners and we a keen to know if the proposed home buyer tax breaks will be any different."
Treasurer Wayne Swan, and Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek this week announced a new scheme to help young people and low-income earners save for a deposit on their first home by offering a 15% tax break on contributions to special home-buyer saver accounts.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes has congratulated the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government on its intention to legislate to allow both partners in a same-sex relationship to access parental leave.
“When you deny parental leave to same-sex parents you inevitably sacrifice the best interests of the children being raised by that couple,” said Innes, “and the welfare of children is paramount.”
Innes noted that the ACT Government should be applauded for its vigilance in removing discrimination against same-sex couples from its own laws.
“The fact remains, however, that discrimination against same sex couples continues to exist under federal legislation, which covers most people in the ACT,” he said.
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) released its Same-Sex: Same Entitlements report in June 2007, which identified 58 federal laws that discriminate against same-sex couples in the areas of work and financial entitlements.
HREOC remains in discussions with the new federal Attorney-General about when the 58 discriminatory laws will be amended.
“We look forward to the day when the federal government removes this discrimination against the more than 25,000 same-sex couples in Australia,” Innes said.
Gay rights advocates say they want to know if same-sex couples will qualify for the Rudd Government's proposed first home buyer tax break.
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
