Robert McClelland (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. It is the case that, for far too long, a group of fellow Australians has been discriminated against. It is about time that that is addressed. State and territory legislatures have removed discrimination on the basis of sexuality, and the Rudd Labor government is committed to doing that. As the first tranche of reforms, I introduced some three weeks ago the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—Superannuation) Bill 2008. That bill will provide equal treatment to same-sex partners in terms of death benefits and taxation concessions and, significantly, to the partner and children of a same-sex partner who has the superannuant entitlement under the fund. The former government, in their 11½ years, did nothing in this area. Regrettably, they will delay the implementation of the laws by reference of this bill to a committee. We had intended to commence the legislation on 1 July 2008.

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