Today is the last day for Senate submissions

Today is the last day for Senate submissions

Today is the last day to make submissions to the Senate about whether or not you want same sex marriage. If you are in favour of same sex marriage, make sure your voice is heard. Now is the time to speak up. The bills propose to remove discrimination in the Marriage Act, so as to allow gays and lesbians to marry. If enacted, Australia will be following the lead of other countries or states, such as South Africa, Canada, Spain and Portugal. (For the full guide, check out the ILGA website, and scroll down on the map, by clicking on the arrow at the top right of the map).

I will be sending my own submission, which will be also posted on this blog.

The easiest way of letting the Senate committee hear your voice is through Australians for Marriage Equality, where there is a dedicated web form allowing an email to be sent direct to the Committee.

The House of Representatives is also holding an inquiry. The closing date for those submissions is 20 April. 

Things to Read, Watch & Listen

Should You Go to Iran for Surrogacy?

When it comes to surrogacy destinations, Iran is probably not the first country that springs to mind. Yet, surprisingly, Iran’s surrogacy laws share some striking similarities with those of California—a state known for its progressive and clear legal framework on assisted reproduction.

How to Obtain a NSW Parentage Order for a Child Born Overseas

Starting July 1, 2025, groundbreaking changes to New South Wales law will significantly affect families involved in overseas surrogacy arrangements. These changes empower the NSW Supreme Court to issue parentage orders for children born through commercial surrogacy overseas—a legal pathway previously unavailable.

Monash IVF Mixup Prompts Health Ministers Rapid Review of IVF Regulation

In recent months, Australia’s fertility sector has been shaken by two unprecedented embryo mixups at Monash IVF clinics. These incidents have not only caused distress and confusion for affected families but have also exposed critical weaknesses in the country’s IVF regulatory framework.

Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board