Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I refer the Attorney-General to the appropriation bill that our very civil Committee is considering in detail. Attorney-General, each and every fair-minded Australian would agree that all Australians are entitled to be treated equally regardless of their sex, age, disability, race, religion or sexuality, whatever that might be. Despite this, many Australians have been discriminated against in Commonwealth laws for way too long. In fact the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission report Same-sex: same entitlements found that same-sex couples and their children experienced discrimination in 105 Commonwealth laws relating to superannuation, taxation and social security.

I refer the Attorney-General to the government’s election commitment to begin removing from Commonwealth laws discrimination against Australians in same-sex relationships. I know that the concept of core and non-core promises is anathema to Kevin Rudd and his government; it is forked-tongue speak for truthful promises and a lie. Therefore, I ask the Attorney-General: what does the budget do to honour the government’s election commitments in this area and what steps has the Attorney-General taken to implement these commitments?

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