Sydney Star Observer issue 1022

ANI LAMONT Couples may have to wait up to two months before they can register their relationship under new laws passed by theNSWGovernment. Legislation to enact a relationships registerpassedbothhousesofParliament last week. NSW now joins the Australian... More

ANI LAMONT Couples may have to wait up to two months before they can register their relationship under new laws passed by theNSWGovernment. Legislation to enact a relationships registerpassedbothhousesofParliament last week. NSW now joins the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania on the list of jurisdictions offering formal recognitionforsame-sexcouples. The Labor Party-endorsed bill was passed 62-9 in the Lower House and 32-5 in the Upper House after two days ofdebate. Introducing the bill into the Upper House, NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos said the reforms would create a formal mechanism to recognise all de facto relationships and ensure couples were able to access the full suite of their rights and entitlements under stateandCommonwealthlaw. “This reform respects the dignity of unmarriedcouples,”Hatzistergossaid. “It does this by creating a mechanism by which couples who register their relationshipwill,forthepurposesofmost NSWlegislation,haveaccesstorigh Less