Australia Government Digs In Heels Over Gay Unions

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

(Canberra) For Australian gays the more things change the more they stay the same.

Last year when Labor's Kevin Rudd was swept to power there were promises that the federal government would provide some recognition of gay and lesbian couples. So far, that has not materialized and government is showing it is little different than that of Liberal Prime Minister John Howard.

Rudd has refused to consider repealing legislation that limits marriage to opposite-sex couples, and is threatening to veto legislation in the Australian Capital Territory that would allow civil unions.

The stumbling block for Rudd's government is a provision in the ACT bill that would allow gay and lesbian couples to have a civil union ceremony.

So far the ACT government is refusing to budge. And while the feud plays out the government in the state of New South Wales is holding back on plans for a domestic partner registry for gay couples.

Twice before the ACT government passed civil unions legislation only to see the laws voided by the federal government of then Prime Minister John Howard. (story) Howard said the legislation violated a ban on gay marriage in Australia that was enacted by the federal Parliament in 2004.

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