|
Civil unions watered down |
PDF |
| Print | |
E-mail |
|
Written by John Kloprogge : PRESS RELEASE
|
|
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 23:12 |
|
Civil unions watered down after Greens compromise Equal Love Canberra
Equal rights activists are deeply disappointed that the ACT Legislative Assembly will today vote to water down civil partnership laws, removing the legal effect of ceremonies, after the ACT Greens announced this morning their intention not to block Labor's amendments to the laws. Activists are disappointed that ACT Labor and the Greens did not take the matter further, but have laid much of the blame with the federal government.
Equal Love Canberra campaigned to ensure the ACT Greens' ceremonies bill passed by the Assembly on 11 November 2009 was not amended in
response to requests from the federal government. The federal government reached a deal last month with ACT Labor whereby official ceremonies would not be vetoed as long as changes were made.
Spokesperson for Equal Love Canberra said ACT Labor and the Greens were taking a step backwards for gay and lesbian rights.
"This is the first time that the Greens have actively supportedlegislation - moved by ACT Labor - to take gay and lesbian rights backwards," Kloprogge said.
"The Stanhope Government promised us laws that would treat same-sex couples with dignity and respect, but they weren't willing to take the laws to the very end."
Kloprogge said the federal government's intrusions were "undermining democracy and equal rights in the ACT".
"The federal government's intimidation of the ACT legislature has resulted in substandard laws, greater inequality, and has left residents feeling resentful towards our federal representatives," Kloprogge said.
"The Rudd Government's continual threats to strike down ACT laws were never justified, and demonstrate what little regard the Prime Minister has for both equality and democracy in the ACT."
Kloprogge said that despite the amendments to be passed today, there was no reason to give up hope.
"This is not the end of the road for effective civil partnership ceremonies in the ACT. We will continue to campaign at a grass-roots level to ensure ACT Labor's election commitments become law."
Kloprogge said that despite the Rudd Government's resistence, the campaign for marriage equality would continue with "renewed vigor".
"The Rudd Government's ideological opposition to marriage equality is hurting democracy in the ACT and taking us backwards."
"A 60 percent majority of Australians want discrimination removed from marriage laws. There is no substitute for full marriage equality, and we will campaign until it's achieved," Kloprogge concluded.
John Kloprogge, ph 0422 913 942,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Gab Hitch, ph 0416 851 894 |
