Melbourne council to register same-sex unions

The Melbourne City Council is taking steps to introduce a partnership scheme that will allow Victorian same-sex couples to have their civil unions recognised by the council.

In November, deputy mayor Gary Singer and councillor Fraser Brindley obtained in-principle support — via a 5-4 vote — for the council to set up a relationships declaration register.

Brindley told the February 20 Melbourne Age that the moves are born of frustration with the state and federal governments' refusal to give legal recognition to same-sex marriages. "It's essentially an issue of equality: some members of the community are not being afforded the same rights and status as others, and that's an injustice in my mind."

Signing the proposed Melbourne council register will give only symbolic recognition to same-sex couples, not the legal rights enjoyed by married couples, since these matters are covered by federal and state laws.

Civil Action Union spokesperson John Kloprogge told Green Left Weekly that the CAU is encouraging people to write to Premier Steve Bracks to demand that his government provide legal recognition to same-sex couples under Victorian law. A sample letter is provided on the CAU's website (<http://cuaction.blogspot.com>)

From GLW issue 701