Same+Sex+Rights+and+Legislation

=NSW in rights push for lesbian mums= Posted Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:33am AEST Updated Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:57am AEST http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/22/2310293.htm

The New South Wales Government wants a federal law amended so children of lesbian couples can seek child support if their parents separate. State Attorney-General John Hatzistergos says co-mothers are not recognised in Family Court proceedings under the current laws. Mr Hatzistergos says he will ask the Federal Government to change the Family Law Act to include lesbian parents at a meeting of attorneys-general this week. "It's important that the laws be amended to ensure that these children are treated in the same way that children of heterosexual relationships are, so that in the event that the parents split up, there is an entitlement for that child to be able to seek child support from co-mothers," he said. "It's important to recognise that these relationships exist and these children exist, whatever one might think about them. "And bearing in mind those facts, it's logical to ensure that we have a civilised way of ensuring the economic security of these children." The State Government last month expanded the rights of NSW children with lesbian parents, clearing the way for children from lesbian couples to inherit money from and receive workers' compensation on behalf of their non-birth parent. The reforms allowed both mothers to appear on their child's birth certificate.

=Rights win for lesbian families= Posted Thu Jun 5, 2008 2:13pm AEST http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/05/2265515.htm The rights of New South Wales children with lesbian parents have been expanded under laws passed by the State Government. The law clears the way for children from lesbian couples to inherit money from their non-birth parent and receive workers' compensation on behalf of their non-birth parent. It also allows both mothers to appear on their child's birth certificate. NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos says the Bill is a big step. "It means that the non-birth parent will have obligations to that child in the same way that every other parent has," he said. "It also means that child will have the same relationship with the non-birth parent as they do with their birth parent." Mr Hatzistergos says shadow attorney-general Greg Smith defied his own party in voting against the Bill. "The Opposition is hopelessly divided on this issue but it's important to recognise that the vote was carried 64 to 11," he said. "With Mr Smith being one of the few leading spokespersons within the Opposition voting against the legislation, he not only defied his leader but also the leader of the National party." Emily Gray, from the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, says many Liberal MPs, who voted against the reforms, were confused about the meaning of reforms. "A lot of that was stemming from the fact that they believed that fathers would be removed from birth certificates following these reforms and that's just simply not true at all," she said. Ms Gray says the changes have been long-awaited. "With 71 per cent of the Australian population now supporting equal rights for same-sex couples, it's about time that this equality came through," she said. "We're really happy that it has."