Vic: Same-sex register by years' end: Bracks

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2007
Vic: Same-sex register by years' end: Bracks

Human rights and same-sex lobby groups have hailed the Victorian government's decision
.. to introduce a register for gay couples before the years' end.

Premier STEVE BRACKS announced the moves today .. setting up a register for same-sex
and defacto couples .. plus people in long-term care-giving relationships.

Gay rights activist RODNEY CROOME is now calling on Victoria to match the provisions
contained in Tasmania's register system .. introduced in 2004 .. where unmarried same
and opposite-sex couples can access parenting rights in areas like adoption.

Mr CROOME says he's also urging both state governments to offer reciprocal recognition
to each other's schemes .. so registered couples have full spousal entitlements regardless
of which state they live in.

He says many same-sex couples in Tasmania have reported increased acceptance from their
families .. following the registering of their relationships.

AAP RTV dr/dk/af/tm

KEYWORD: GAY (MELBOURNE)

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