Media Release: NEW REGISTER TO RECOGNISE COMMITTED RELATIONSHIPS

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL

DATE: Tuesday, December 4, 2007

NEW REGISTER TO RECOGNISE COMMITTED RELATIONSHIPS

De-facto and same-sex couples will have easier access to entitlements by registering their relationship under legislation tabled in Parliament today by Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls.

“This legislation will allow both de-facto and same-sex couples to register their relationship with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages,” Mr Hulls said.

“The Relationships Register is not gay marriage or a civil union. It is a practical mechanism to ensure that people who are not married and are in a committed relationship have access to entitlements.

“By registering their relationship, people will be able to access their entitlements without having to prove repeatedly that they are in a committed relationship.”

The Relationships Register builds on the State Government’s 2001 reforms that amended 57 Acts of Parliament to remove discrimination against same-sex and unmarried couples.

“These reforms provide that Victorian laws, in most cases, treat de-facto and same-sex couples in the same way as married couples,” Mr Hulls said.

Under existing laws couples may be required to provide evidence to prove their relationship, for example, in medical emergencies or to access property and life insurance entitlements.

“The Relationships Register will offer conclusive proof of a relationship with one certificate,” Mr Hulls said.

To register, couples need to be in an exclusive relationship. They need to be 18 years of age or older, live in Victoria, and be unmarried.

“The register enables couples who want the dignity of formal recognition of their loving relationship to register it, and to have the security of knowing that their decision to commit to a shared life with each other is respected in Victoria,” Mr Hulls said.

The Government announced in April this year it would establish a Relationships Register for people who are not married and are in a committed relationship.

The City of Melbourne and City of Yarra councils have set up symbolic relationship registers.

“The Relationships Register provides a single coherent system operating in Victoria, rather than a local government-based approach,” Mr Hulls said.

The Bill will be debated when Parliament resumes in February.