New legislation granting parenting rights to same-sex couples was passed in the Senate in October 16. The legislation grants legal recognition to children of same-sex parents born through IVF or surrogacy.
Parents who are same-sex couples will have the same legal rights as parents who are heterosexual de facto couples. The bill does not grant same-sex marriage rights.
The Liberal Party opposition failed in its attempt to water-down the bill by removing the term "parent" from provisions dealing with same-sex couples and de facto heterosexual couples with children.
"The Opposition wanted to turn back the clock to a time when there was a legal distinction between the children of married couples and those of de facto partners", Corey Irlam from the Australian Coalition for Equality commented on October 16.
"We are appalled that the Opposition wanted to downgrade the legal status of heterosexual de facto partners rather than grant full parent status to same-sex partners", Irlam said.
Some of the speeches given during the discussion of the bill in parliament were overtly homophobic. Liberal senator Cory Bernardi asked the Senate, "Is it fair that same-sex couples be treated the same as married couples? I say no." National Party senator Ron Boswell said the legislation created a new class of parent, a "fother".
The bill will return to the lower house next week, before a final vote in the Senate in November. It is part of a law reform package proposed by the Labor government to grant de facto rights to same-sex couples. Marriage rights are not part of this package.