Bleijie supports gay marriage

Politics in Queensland are like nowhere else. We are witness to this just now with former Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie announcing his support for equal marriage, and supporting civil partnerships. His action seems to have triggered the LNP for the first time allowing a conscience vote on the civil partnership laws. The scale of this backflip… Read More »Custom Single Post Header

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Bleijie supports gay marriage

Politics in Queensland are like nowhere else. We are witness to this just now with former Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie announcing his support for equal marriage, and supporting civil partnerships. His action seems to have triggered the LNP for the first time allowing a conscience vote on the civil partnership laws.

The scale of this backflip is breathtaking. Back in 2012, Bleijie as Attorney-General got rid of civil partnerships, so that there were registered relationships instead. This all happened in about 48 hours, as it was considered “urgent” legislation. If that weren’t enough, Bleijie then pushed to wind back the State’s surrogacy laws, so that it would become a criminal offence if a gay, lesbian or single intended parent entered into a surrogacy arrangement; and he also sought to remove, alone of all the States, the recognition of non-biological mums in lesbian relationships as parents of their children. Thankfully his position then softened. Ultimately the Newman government deferred the surrogacy changes, never to be heard from again.

Bleijie was seen as the hard, uncaring face of government. His position was clear: children should not be conceived through surrogacy arrangements by gays, lesbians and singles- “because every child deserves a mother and a father.”

Bleijie, who is also a marriage celebrant, sums it up when it comes to who can and can’t get married:
“Marriage should be a statement of love and commitment between the happy couple; not an institution that rejects those who wish to enter it with the best intentions.’’

 

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Forced Marriage

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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