ALP National Platform Consultations Running Now

On Monday, Labor's National Policy Committee released the first draft of the new National Platform - the guiding document for a second term Rudd Government.

The first draft did not change the current platform's policy of state based relationship registers for same-sex couples.

The community has moved on, the party has moved on, and we need to show the NPC that the party's rank and file won't accept another generation of loving same-sex relationships being made invisible by Australian law.

SO: details of your local consultation (in all major cities) and registration is at: http://www.alp.org.au/platform/2009consultation.php

On the registration page, make a submission under Chapter 7: Securing and inclusive future for all Australians.

Copy and paste Rainbow Labor's submission as follows:

Under the heading `Removing discrimination against same-sex couples', replace article 127 with:

“Labor believes that people are entitled to respect, equality, dignity and the opportunity to participate in society and receive the protection of the law regardless of their sexuality or gender identity.

In 2007 Labor audited Commonwealth laws to identify discrimination against same-sex couples. In 2008 laws were passed to remove discrimination from 84 pieces of Commonwealth legislation.

To further ensure the equal recognition of relationships, Labor will introduce legislation to allow civil unions to be registered and legally recognised in Australia.

This legislation will:

Provide for two people to have their relationship solemnised as a civil union by way of a formal ceremony and officially registered in Australia;

Allow for both same-sex and heterosexual couples to enter into a civil union;

Facilitate the legal recognition in Australia of relationships solemnised in other countries, where the relationship recognition laws of those countries are sufficiently similar;

Ensure that in Australian law, couples in Civil Unions are afforded the same legal rights as married couples; and

Be based on the New Zealand Civil Union Act 2004.”

Please invite all supportive ALP comrades to participate in the consultation process, and pass the above submission through your local branch, YLA and FEC.