Robert McClelland is continuing a fine ALP tradition in announcing legislation to remove discrimination against same-sex couples in Commonwealth laws and programs.
The reforms are long overdue, and more than just the symbolism we like to bag the Rudd Government for. They will make a substantial difference to many gay and lesbian couples, although there are undoubtedly some who may be worse off as a consequence of the tighter household income rules that will flow from the changes. However, McClelland has ducked the issues of adoption, surrogacy and IVF and deferred to the States on them, only urging national uniformity.
But the changes are also an inspired political wedge of which former Attorney-General Michael Lavarch would be proud. In 1994, Lavarch introduced the Human Rights (S-xual Conduct) Act 1994, one of the shorter, sweeter and more politically fruitful pieces of legislation produced during the Keating years. It over-rode the Tasmanian Parliament’s refusal to decriminalise homosexuality, and sent the Opposition into remarkable spasms as it tried to work out how to respond, with homophobes hastily invoking states’ rights as a figleaf for their bigotry.
McClelland’s reforms also have a strong policy rationale, and will also make life difficult for the Coalition. Indeed, the Coalition doesn’t need much help from anyone to wedge itself on same-s-x couples. Not long before the election, the Howard Government embarrassed itself when, despite the efforts of Malcolm Turnbull, Brendan Nelson, Joe Hockey and Philip Ruddock, Cabinet very publicly decided not to proceed with the removal of same-s-x discrimination in the face of concerted lobbying from Christian groups. The Rudd Government has commendably ignored the likes of the Australian Christian Lobby this time around.
Brendan Nelson has indicated “in-principle support” for the changes, although on past form he’s likely to contradict himself next time he opens his mouth. Whether party conservatives, especially in the “Rule 1: No Pooftahs” enclave of the National Party, are quite so happy to back this, particularly when the Government reveals the price tag on Budget Night, remains to be seen.
If the cost runs into the tens of millions of dollars, and without the States’ rights argument to use, look for reactionaries to hide their homophobia behind a concern for the budget bottom (no pun intended) line.
Sorry Lucy, JJ’s nothing to do with me. I’m not above trolling blogs but not my own material and not here. I’m waiting for him to condemn the Albigensians and call every un-pregnant woman a murderer. One can only hope he doesn’t sniff chairs.
Lucy, I’m for real honey, but sadly, so are you. The unborn tremble with fear with the left liberal concept of ‘rights’, the helpless and the innocent being butchered while you laud the freedom of their executioners!
dear mr moron ahem moran when you say ‘i will fight’ against the non ‘normal’ gay people do you mean it rhetorically or by doing the usual and kicking gay peoples’ heads in? as for equating pedophilia with homosexuality, go back to your church, i believe thats where they seem to congregate.
About a week ago, the Fritzl Family of Amstetten, Austria, were a vision of normality. An aging married couple trying to raise three children seemingly abandoned by their daughter who had been caught up in a religious sect. This family would have been viewed and presented as an illustration of the virtues of heterosexual normality. They may well have been defended, even celebrated, by the likes of Jensen or Pell.
But this image was of course a facade, hiding the work of a predator. This NORMAL family, the heterosexuality of marriage which is supposed to protect children…. where was it?? or did this man use the vision of normality that marriage may lend as the smoke screen to his crimes??
What is normal?
Is normality different from one to another?
I have a form of autism, the way my brain works, the way I perceive the world, the way I interact is not the way most others do, yet it is normal, normal for me, as is my homosexuality, as is your hetero/bi/homosexuality. Who is more wor
Lynda, typical Protestant/secularist myopia! When you may your next donation to an AIDS fund think long and hard about these ‘innocent life style’ questions