Australian: Rudd to delay equality reforms

Friday, April 18, 2008

The Australian reports that the Rudd Government is considering delaying the promised removal of legal discrimination against gays and lesbians, which will cost taxpayers up to $400million over four years.

The cost of removing legal discrimination against gays and lesbians is less than half the amount claimed by the Howard government, but the Rudd Government is still undecided about whether to include the reforms in the May budget.

Human Rights Commissioner Graham Innes said any further delay would be unacceptable. “Cost is not the issue. The issue here is a basic right and that is the right to equality…”

Things to Read, Watch & Listen

Forced Marriage

On November 1st 2023, Accredited Family Law Specialist and Page Provan Director Stephen Page presented a paper at the Brisbane Zonta Club about forced marriage. I acknowledge the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, on whose lands we meet today, their elders, past, present and emerging. Ruqia Hidari was aged 21 and living in Victoria, when, according to police,… Read More »Forced Marriage

ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

The ACT Government has today introduced a bill to amend the ACT’s surrogacy laws. The proposed changes are more incremental than fundamental. They include allowing a single person to undertake surrogacy, for the surrogate to be single if needed, a requirement for legal advice and counselling beforehand, a written agreement being required, that traditional surrogacy is… Read More »ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

Planning to resolve: ADR in ART

ADR can help resolve disputes in ART cases. ADR is not limited to mediation and arbitration. Other types of informal dispute resolution can resolve disputes. When assisted reproductive treatment cases go off the rails, they can have the next level of bitterness and volatility. There can be a keen sense of betrayal when things don’t… Read More »Planning to resolve: ADR in ART