The ACT Greens will today reluctantly support changes to their civil partnerships laws to protect the rights of same sex couples to have a legal ceremony as part of the creation of their civil partnerships.

“The decision to support these changes has been a really tough one for us, but ultimately we have been elected to represent the rights of people in the ACT, and we cannot risk the Federal ALP Government intervening to remove those rights once again,” said Greens Attorney General Spokesperson, Shane Rattenbury MLA.

“Over the past weeks, same sex couples in the ACT have been using the new laws to create their civil partnerships, and as someone who has attended one of those ceremonies, I have seen how important ceremonies are for the couples involved.”

“By failing to rule out a veto against the ACT’s legislation, the Rudd Government has again confirmed their discrimination against same sex couples and their disrespect for the ACT parliament.”

“The Rudd Government has effectively done a deal behind closed doors with the ACT Government to water down our original legislation. Unfortunately if we don’t’ change our laws we risk a Federal Government veto.”

“The Rudd Government has abused its power in this debate by not engaging in an open debate with the ACT Assembly and by not clarifying their position on a veto before the Assembly debated these changes today.
 
“Mr Rudd and his colleagues gave no significant reasons for their concerns and it can only be assumed that their opposition to the current legislation is due to their pandering to conservative views that don’t respect diversity in our society”.

“By putting these conservative views ahead what the elected representatives in the Assembly have determined is right for the people of the ACT is disrespectful both of the ACT and of the democratic process that we all value.”

“However, at the end of the day, we can’t play politics with the lives of same sex couples in the ACT – their rights must come first.”

“We are still very proud to have introduced this legislation, and despite commentary that the whole package would be vetoed, there are real steps forward here.”

“The Greens will continue to work in all parliaments to eliminate ongoing discrimination against same sex couples.”

The changes that passed the Assembly today will mean that same sex couples will still be able to have a legally recognised ceremony and a notary officiating at their ceremonies.

Greens Attorney General Spokesperson, Shane Rattenbury MLA, has called on the Federal Government to come clean about whether they would veto the ACT’s civil ceremonies law if the law is not changed this week in the Assembly.

“I have contacted the Attorney General and the Prime Minister’s office to get clarity on whether the Federal Government would actually veto the Greens legislation if it wasn’t amended in the Assembly this week,” said Mr Rattenbury.

“Until now, the Federal Government has been extremely coy about their reasons for threatening a veto. In a letter my office received today, the Commonwealth has indicated that these amendments are to ‘bring the ACT scheme into line with a nationally consistent framework’.

“This framework is merely an agreement between the Australian Labor Parties, not between States and Territory governments and it’s based on the ALP Party Platform – nothing more, nothing less.”

“That is not a sound basis on which to over-turn valid ACT laws.”

“The only indication we have received that the Commonwealth might veto was via ACT Labour. If the Commonwealth has something to say on this, then they should say it themselves.”

“We don’t believe there is a legal reason for the Commonwealth to intervene, and it would be highly unusual for them to veto because of a policy reason – especially such a small difference of policy as now currently exists between the ACT and the Commonwealth.”

“So the question needs to be put – would the Federal Government actually over-ride our legislation, or are we debating this again in the Assembly this week for no reason?”

“And, if the Commonwealth is threatening a veto, then the onus is on them to be absolutely clear about their reasons for doing so.”

“The amendments tabled by the ACT Government only reflect the desires of the Commonwealth, not the ACT community.”

“We have an obligation on behalf of the community to try to find out exactly why this amendment bill is necessary – that is information the Assembly has still not yet received,”said Mr Rattenbury.

The Government’s amendments to the Greens’ Bill were negotiated behind closed doors with the Federal Government and are due to be debated on Thursday.

ACT Greens Attorney General spokesperson Shane Rattenbury today expressed reluctance to accept amendments to the Civil Partnerships legislation without a clear explanation of why the changes are necessary.

“The Greens are reluctant to accept changes to our legislation without being given the reason why those changes are necessary. The Government is claiming they have a solution but they haven’t told us what the problem is yet,” Shane Rattenbury MLA said today.

“Our view is that if it’s not broken, you don’t need to fix it.

“We have a valid piece of legislation that has been in force for weeks. The legislation has been a success. It is working and we have had couples using it and having ceremonies.

“When asked, the ACT Attorney General cannot give a reason for the amendments, except that they are needed to avoid a veto.  He refuses to answer the question of why the laws are not acceptable as is.

 “The ACT and Federal Governments met in private and negotiated the amendments. The Government needs to put on the public record the exact reasons the current legislation is faulty,” Mr Rattenbury said.

The ACT Greens will continue to listen to individuals, community groups and the local and federal governments before making a final decision. The amending legislation is to be tabled by the Government in the Assembly next week and a vote is likely on Thursday.

Greens Attorney General spokesperson, Shane Rattenbury MLA, has joined a number of celebrants at the Office of Regulatory Services to mark the Greens Civil Ceremonies Legislation coming into effect.

The celebrants will be lodging applications at the Registrar-General’s office to become civil partnership notaries.

“The Greens are delighted to see the commencement of the our legislation which makes formal a very special occasion for same sex couples, hopefully something they will remember forever,” Mr Shane Rattenbury said.

“Today we are here to mark the occasion of the legislation coming into force with a number of potential civil partnership notaries who are lodging their applications to the Registrar-General.”

“The number of people making their applications today to become notaries shows how eager people are to embrace the new civil ceremonies.”

Civil partnership notaries will officiate during the proceedings and ensure the ceremony runs smoothly and according to legal requirements.

“Once these applications have been processed by the Registrar-General, successful applicants will be able to take couples through the pre-ceremony requirements and run the proceedings on the day.

“We want to publicise the commencement of the legislation today so that potential notaries know to make their applications and so that couples who might be considering a public ceremony know they now can go ahead,” Mr Rattenbury said.

An ACT Greens Bill giving same sex couples in the ACT the right to create their civil partnerships through a legally binding ceremony before friends and family has passed the Legislative Assembly today.

“This legislation is another step along the road to full equality for same sex couples in Australia, and we are delighted that the Assembly has passed it today,” Greens Attorney General spokesperson, Shane Rattenbury MLA, said.

“The ACT has today provided the option for same sex couples to have a legally binding, formal ceremony to create their civil partnerships.”

“This is about respect and decency and acknowledging that the relationships of same sex couples have an equal value in our community.

“We understand that this is not same sex marriage. We have done in the ACT what we can within our constitutional power, and fully acknowledge that this is not the end of the debate for equal rights for same sex couples.”

“It was extremely disappointing when in 2004, the Federal Coalition with support from Federal ALP, moved to change the definition of marriage to only be between a man and a woman.  This must be undone. Marriage, and love, should be equal for all.”

“We fully support same sex marriage and we hope that these changes in the ACT today will add momentum to the campaign for equal rights across Australia,” Mr Rattenbury said.