States call for recognition of children from same sex relationships

State and Territory Attorneys-General have called upon the Commonwealth to amend the Family Law Act so that children of same sex relationships are recognised.

Their call, made at the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General meeting in New Zealand, is that section 60H of the Family Law Act be amended, so that children of same sex relationships are considered, for the purposes of the Family Law Act, to be children of the relationship.

If this were to occur, this change would in many ways accord recognition to co-parents. The same rules would apply to co-parents as they now do for married or straight de facto couples, and so it may not be necessary in the future for gay and lesbian co-parents to have to go to court to obtain orders to enable them to enrol children at school or make medical decisions without the permission of the natural parent.

Stephen Page, Harrington Family Lawyers, Brisbane spage@harringtonfamilylawyers.com 61(7) 3221 9544