Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I would just like to acknowledge that the Greens support the government request for amendment. The issue in relation to parenting presumptions was a major concern raised during the inquiry. The concern was that 60H needed to be gender neutral in order to appropriately cover the children of lesbian couples. While the use of gender neutral language is needed, in order to capture all parents we would need to see a complete overhaul of current surrogacy legislation to ensure that there are uniform surrogacy laws across the board. The Greens are pleased that the government has adopted the committee’s recommendation and we fully support the amendment to sections 60H and 90RB.

I would just like to say again that the Greens are very pleased that the government is moving these amendments and we would like to see the legislation passed immediately. Enough is enough. It is 2008. We have been discussing the need for equality for same-sex couples for decades, and yet discrimination is continuing to occur on a daily basis. We must not delay these vital changes any longer. We need to see same-sex couples given the same decency, respect and equality in law that heterosexual couples get so that their families have the entitlement to the support, recognition and equality they deserve.