Same-Sex Marriage Equality

In 2008, the Australian Government introduced reforms to 84 widespread Commonwealth laws effecting taxation, Medicare, social security, child support and many other areas, with the intention of removing inherent discriminations against same-sex couples and their children.

Discrimination in the Australian legal system has been an everyday feature in the lives of homosexual people and has adversely affected their ability to fight for equal relationship status in this country. Lack of recognition has largely been based on a lack of visibility within the law. In many areas, same-sex couples have simply been excluded from any definitions of ‘relationships’ so that in effect they do not exist.

Although the 2008 legislation changes went a long way towards ending discrimination against same-sex couples, there is still a law that stands in the way of removing all discrimination, the Marriage Amendment Act 2004 (Cth). Australia has been a little slow to keep up with the progressive international trend to address issues of discrimination based on sexual identity. Countries such as Canada, the Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Norway and the American states of Iowa, Connecticut, Vermont and Massachusetts now all allow for same-sex marriage.