Kerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I wanted to ask the minister about the government’s response to the first of the Australian Greens’ amendments. I have spoken substantially to these amendments already in my second reading contribution. They both deal with issues relating to sexuality and same-sex couples being recognised and not discriminated against. The second amendment is about making clear that, where someone was having their assets assessed as to whether or not their family home would be considered an asset, that definition included a same-sex partner. The minister commented in his second reading reply that the government did not intend to support that.

I have a couple of questions for the minister. I asked in my second reading contribution whether the government currently interpreted the definition of ‘member of a couple’ to include a same-sex partner or not, because the definition talked about a marriage-like relationship and I was not sure how the government currently interpreted that ‘member of a couple’ clause. Then I wanted to ask what the government’s position is in relation to my first amendment, which is seeking to amend the objects of the act to include all of the bases on which people should not be discriminated against in getting access to aged-care services.