NSW Government Passes Relationship Register Legislation

The NSW Government has recently passed legislation to create a relationships register which will make it easier for GLBTIQ couples to access legal entitlements and provide recognition for comitted and de facto relationships.

The following is a speech by Minister John Robertson, who spoke passionately in favour of the passage of the Relationships Register Bill in the Legislative Council.

The Hon. JOHN ROBERTSON (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Energy, and Minister for Public Sector Reform) [8.42 p.m.]: I support the Relationships Register Bill 2010. The bill proposes very important practical reforms that affect the day-to-day lives of many couple across this State. The bill provides a single system for the recognition of de facto relationships, including same-sex relationships. Couples will be able to record their relationship on a single register that is accessible by all relevant agencies. Some of the benefits that the register will provide to de facto couples include recognition as family for the purposes of Medicare and superannuation and recognition in situations requiring medical consent and in judicial processes. The register may help to smooth the way at critical times for de facto families—that is, at times when proving the existence of a relationship is the last thing couples want to have to do.

Yesterday we received the sad news that our former colleague and Labor luminary Jeff Shaw passed away. I can think of no better way to honour his memory than by continuing with the reforms that he began during his time in this place. This bill does that. Jeff was committed to equality under the law. In 1999 he introduced the Property (Relationships) Legislation Amendment Bill, which incorporated same-sex couples into the definition of de facto relationship. The Relationships Register Bill 2010 continues in that tradition by creating a central register for same-sex couples. This bill requires same-sex couples to register their relationship only once rather than having to prove their relationship status each time they contact a government agency.

This Government is committed to achieving real and practical reforms for New South Wales residents, including those in same-sex relationships. Since 1991 it has introduced a series of laws that, among other things, provide same-sex couples with rights in regard to superannuation, IVF and artificial insemination. Family now means many things to different people. The traditional family unit is extremely important to contemporary society, but the traditional model is not for everyone. Modern families can take many shapes and we are a better society for recognising that diversity rather than ignoring it.

I speak tonight as a parent about the circumstances in my own family. I have a courageous young son who last year told us that he is homosexual. I would like to think that my son will not suffer discrimination and that as a Parliament we do whatever we can to reduce discrimination and to ensure justice and equality. My son is the same person he was before he revealed his sexuality and he always will be. The person he is and the values that we hold dear in our family have not changed simply because he has said that he is gay. It was difficult for him to raise the issue of his sexuality, but he did it with courage. He is a confident young man who in his last year of school is known to be homosexual. He is proud of it and my family and I are very proud of the fact that he is still a very good, decent, confident young man who is comfortable with who he is. As a society we should respect people for who they are and not discriminate against them because of their sexual preference, colour, race, religion or anything else. This legislation is a step towards ensuring that we continue to pursue that equality. We must ensure that everybody is treated with dignity and respect. In the same way that members who express different views in this Chamber tonight will be treated with respect, we should respect people who decide to live their lives in a manner that some people find confronting. That should not be a reason to deny them their rights.

I am reminded tonight of discussions I had in years gone by with Johnno Johnson. I used to talk to him about Parliament not sitting. He would say, "Be thankful we are not sitting because generally when we are we are removing people's rights." Tonight we are doing something positive as a Parliament and giving people rights. We have recognised that those rights should be delivered and we are delivering them in this legislation. This is a very important bill and it should be passed. We should feel proud that we as a society have determined that we will respect people irrespective of their sexual preference.

The relationships register recognises the reality of modern society and the significant role that de facto relationships play in contemporary Australia. This bill will also play an important role in strengthening community relations. Having a relationship register will not create new relationships but will simply recognise those that already exist. This Government will not stick its head in the sand or make assumptions about how people should live. As such, this bill does not represent an attempt at social overhaul but it is an acknowledgement of the status quo.

I have received some emails in recent days, some of which I found slightly confronting. They contain judgements about my role as a father and the fact that my son is homosexual. They suggest that somehow my relationship with my son is the cause of his homosexuality. I actually feel sorry for the person who sent those emails. I love my son and he loves me. I feel that I am closer to my son because he is so comfortable with his emotions and that he can hug and kiss me publicly. I feel very proud of that. I feel sorry for the people who are compelled to write emails containing judgements about circumstances of which they know very little and who use that as a basis on which to suggest how members should vote on this legislation. This bill is not about passing judgement; in fact, its premise is that rather than judge people we should give them the rights that many of us take for granted. This bill typifies the Government's commitment to real outcomes for New South Wales. It is a well considered and necessary move for New South Wales and I commend it to the House.

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/0/3D6214CCA4D...