The Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby of NSW (GLRL) were among 36 organisations and around 200 individuals who provided submissions to the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Senate Committee overseeing same-sex law reforms.

Representatives from GLRL attended the Committee on Tuesday this week to offer presentations on the Same-Sex Relationship (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws-Superannuation) Bill and the Family Law Amendment (De Facto Financial Matters and Other Measures) Bill.

The GLRL’s main argument in relation to the superannuation Bill was the rejection of the interdependency category to determine a same-sex relationship, and with the de facto Bill they argued that a section of the Family Law Act be amended so the definition of parent includes co-mothers.

“The current proposals would only recognise same-sex parents when comes to property division,” Gray told SX.

“We’d like to ensure same-sex parents are recognised also when it comes to things like child support.”

The GLRL also put forward a recommendation that the government should support a public education campaign about same-sex people’s rights and responsibilities under the new reforms.

According to Gray, the Committee will release its findings in September. In the meantime the GLRL is hoping to have further meetings with the Attorney-General.

“We’ve been advocating that a monitoring committee be established with a combination of lobbyists and academic experts in various areas of law and health to oversee the reforms,” she said.

Submissions to the Committee can be read online on the Australian Parliament House website at www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/legcon_ctte/inquiries.htm  

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