George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

The first bracket of amendments should not detain the chamber for long, I hope. These are what I referred to a moment ago in my speech in the second reading debate as the technical amendments. I should say that these amendments have been prepared within the Attorney-General's Department. Their effect is basically to ensure that the provisions of this bill align with other Commonwealth law. The effect of them, if I may summarise them, is: to ensure the recognition of foreign same-sex marriages solemnised in Australia by a foreign consular or diplomatic officer prior to the commencement of the bill; to repeal section 40(5) of the Sex Discrimination Act; to make consequential amendments to a range of Commonwealth legislation necessary to implement same-sex marriage reform, such as removing gendered language; to provide transitional arrangements for family law matters, including matters currently before the courts, maintenance matters and binding financial agreements, including matters on foot in the state jurisdiction of Western Australia; to provide a transitional arrangement to enable same-sex couples to participate in a second marriage ceremony if there is doubt as to the validity of a foreign same-sex marriage solemnised prior to commencement; to provide provisions for the Attorney to make disallowable legislative instruments to determine other transitional arrangements if they are necessary to implement these reforms; and to make technical and consequential amendments to the following acts—the Acts Interpretation Act, the Australian Defence Force Cover Act, the Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act, the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Act, the Defence (Visiting Forces) Act, the Evidence Act, the Family Law Act, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act, the Financial Transaction Reports Act, the Governor-General Act, the Judges' Pensions Act, the Maintenance Orders (Commonwealth Officers) Act, the Marriage Act, the Migration Act, the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act, the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act and the Superannuation Act.

The CHAIR: Senator Brandis, are you seeking to move all eight together?

Yes. I'm sorry, I should have said that. I seek leave to move all of the amendments on sheet 8334 revised together.

Leave granted.

I move:

(1) Clause 2, page 2 (at the end of the table), add:

6. Schedule 2 The day after the end of the period of 12

months starting on the day the provisions covered by table item 2 commence.

7. Schedules 3 At the same time as the provisions covered

and 4 by table item 2.

[ official record of person ' s sex; consequent ial amendments; application and transitional provisions]

(2) Schedule 1, item 71, page 20 (line 24), omit "an overseas country", substitute "a foreign country".

[pre-commencement diplomatic or consular marriages]

(3) Schedule 1, item 71, page 20 (line 32), omit "the overseas country". substitute the foreign country".

[pre-commencement diplomatic or consular marriages]

(4) Schedule 1, item 71, page 21 (line 1), omit "the overseas country", substitute "the foreign country".

[ pre-commencement diplomatic or consular marriages]

(5) Schedule 1, item 71, page 21 (lines 9 and 10), omit the definition of overseas country.

[ pre-commencement diplomatic or consular marriages]

(6) Page 21 (after line 12), at the end of the Bill, add:

Schedule 2—Additional amendment of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984

Sex Discrimination Act 1984

1 Subsection 4(1) (definition of official record of a person ' s sex) Repeal the definition.

2 Subsection 40(5)

Repeal the subsection.

[official record of person's sex]

(7) Page 21, at the end of the Bill (after proposed Schedule 2), add:

Schedule 3—Consequential amendments Part 1—Attorney-General Acts Interpretation Act 1901

1 Section 2B

Insert:

spouse: see section 2CA.

2 After section 2C Insert:

2CA References to spouses

(1) For the purposes of any Act, a person is the spouse of another person (whether of the same sex or a different sex) if the person is legally married to the other person.

(2) Subsection (1) has effect in addition to any provision of an Act that affects the meaning of spouse in a provision of that Act.

Example: Spouse is defined for the purposes of an Act to include a de facto partner and a former spouse. Because of this section, a reference in the Act to a person's spouse covers any person who is legally married to the person, in addition to any person covered by the definition in the Act.

3 Application of definition of spouse

The amendments of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 made by this Part apply, on and after the commencement of this Part, in relation to Acts enacted and instruments made before, on or after that commencement.

Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955

4 Paragraph 31(1 ) ( c)

Omit "husband or wife" (wherever occurring), substitute "husband, wife or spouse".

5 Application of amendment—evidence of spouses in proceedings

The amendment of the Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955 made by this Part applies in relation to proceedings before the Tribunal on or after the commencement of this Part, whether instituted before or after that commencement.

Defence (Visiting Forces) Act 1963

6 Subsection 5(1) (paragraph (a) of the definition of dependant) Omit "wife or husband", substitute "wife, husband or spouse".

Evidence Act 1995

7 Paragraph 73(1 ) ( b)

Omit "a man and a woman", substitute "2 people-.

8 Application of amendment—evidence concerning relationships

The amendment of the Evidence Act 1995 made by this Part applies in relation to evidence adduced in proceedings on or after the commencement of this Part, whether the proceedings are instituted before or after that commencement.

Family Law Act 1975

9 Subsection 4(1) (definition of child of a marriage) Repeal the definition, substitute:

child of a marriage has a meaning affected by subsections 60F(1), (2), (3) and (4).

10 Paragraph 43(1 ) ( a)

Omit "a man and a woman", substitute "2 people".

11 Subsection 55A(3)

Omit the husband or the wife", substitute "party to the marriage".

12 Subsection 55A(3)

Omit the husband and wife", substitute "both parties to the marriage".

13 Subsection 55A(4)

Omit "husband and wife", substitute "parties to the marriage".

14 Section 60E

Omit all the words after "void", substitute "as if the purported marriage were a marriage".

15 Subsection 60F(1)

Repeal the subsection, substitute:

(1) For the purposes of this Act, a child is (subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4)) a child of a

marriage if:

(a) the child is the child of both parties to the marriage, whether born before or after the

marriage; or

(b) the child is adopted after the marriage by both parties to the marriage, or by either of them with the consent of the other.

16 Subsection 60F(4A) Repeal the subsection.

17 Subsection 98A(3)

Omit "the husband or the wife", substitute "party to the marriage".

18 Subsection 98A(3)

Omit "the husband and wife", substitute "both parties to the marriage-.

19 Subsection 98A(4)

Omit "husband and wife", substitute "parties to the marriage".

20 Section 100 (heading) Repeal the heading, substitute:

100 Evidence of husbands, wives or spouses

21 Application of amendments

(1)Sections 55A, 60F and 98A of the Family Law Act 1975, as in force on and after the

commencement of this Part, apply in relation to a marriage (within the meaning of the Marriage Act 1961, as amended by this Act), even if:

(a) the marriage took place before that commencement; or

(b) for subsections 60F(3) and (4)—the adoption of the child took place before that commencement.

(2) Section 60E of the Family Law Act 1975, as in force on and after the commencement of this

Part, applies in relation to a purported marriage (within the meaning of the Marriage Act 1961, as amended by this Act), even if the purported marriage took place before that commencement.

Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988

22 Paragraph 21A(1 ) ( b)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

(b) if the signatory has changed the surname by which the signatory is known to that of the signatory's spouse or de facto spouse—by which the signatory was known before making that change; or

Maintenance Orders (Commonwealth Officers) Act 1966

23 Section 3 (definition of maintenance order) After "wives,", insert "husbands, spouses,".

Marriage Act 1961

24 Subsection 42(10)

Omit "a widow or widower", substitute "that that party's last spouse has died".

25 Application of amendments

Subsection 42(10) of the Marriage Act 1961, as amended by this Part, applies in relation to a marriage (within the meaning of that Act as amended by this Act) that takes place at or after the commencement of this Part.

Part 2—Defence

Australian Defence Force Cover Act 2015

26 Subsections 7(1) and (2)

Omit "husband or wife" (wherever occurring), substitute "husband, wife, spouse".

Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Act 1973

27 Subsections 6A(1) and (2)

Omit "husband or wife" (wherever occurring), substitute "husband, wife, spouse".

Part 3—Employment

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988

28 Subsection 4(1) (paragraph (b) of the definition of spouse) Omit "husband or wife", substitute "husband, wife or spouse".

Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992

29 Section 3 (paragraph (b) of the definition of spouse) Omit "husband or wife", substitute "husband, wife or spouse".

Part 4—Finance

Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999

30 Subclause 9E(5) of Schedule 1

Omit "husband or wife" (wherever occurring), substitute "husband, wife, spouse".

Governor-General Act 1974

31 Subsections 2B(2) and (3)

Omit "husband or wife" (wherever occurring), substitute "husband, wife, spouse".

Judges ' Pensions Act 1968

32 Subsections 4AB(1) and (2)

Omit "husband or wife" (wherever occurring), substitute "husband, wife, spouse".

Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948

33 Subsections 4B(1) and (2)

Omit "husband or wife" (wherever occurring), substitute "husband. wife, spouse".

Superannuation Act 1976

34 Subsections 8A(1) and (2)

Omit "husband or wife" (wherever occurring), substitute "husband, wife, spouse".

Part 5—Immigration and Border Protection Migration Act 1958

35 Subsection 5F(1)

After "another person", insert "(whether of the same sex or a different sex)".

36 Paragraph 5F(2 ) ( b)

Omit "as husband and wife", substitute "as a married couple".

Part 6—Veterans ' Affairs

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004

37 Subsection 5(1) (paragraph (a) of the definition of partner) Omit "husband or wife", substitute "husband, wife or spouse".

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988

38 Subsection 4(1) (paragraph (b) of the definition of spouse)

Omit "husband or wife", substitute "husband. wife or spouse".

[consequential amendments]

Page 21, at the end of the Bill (after proposed Schedule 3), add:

Schedule 4—Additional application and transitional provisions

Part 1—Application and transitional provisions relating to family law matters

Division 1—Preliminary

1 Definitions

(1) In this Schedule:

pre-commencement same-sex marriage means a marriage (within the meaning of the Marriage Act 1961, as amended by this Act) that:

(a) was solemnised before the recognition time; and

(b) is recognised in Australia as valid at the recognition time because of Part 5 of Schedule 1 to this Act; and

(c) would not have been so recognised apart from that Part.

recognition time means the commencement of Part 5 of Schedule 1.

(2) A term that is used in this Schedule and defined for the purposes of the Family Law Act 1975

has the same meaning in this Schedule as it has in that Act.

Division 2—Matters under the Family Law Act 1975

2 Proceedings pending under the Family Law Act 1975 in relation to pre-commencement same-sex marriages

(1) This item applies to proceedings that:

(a) were pending under the Family Law Act 1975 immediately before the recognition time; and

(b) related to a de facto relationship that:

  (i) existed before or when the proceedings were instituted; and

  (ii) was between 2 persons who were parties to a single pre-commencement same-sex marriage solemnised before the proceedings were instituted.

(2) The proceedings continue under the Family Law Act 1975 at and after the recognition time:

(a) as if they related to a marriage that had been solemnised when the pre-commencement same-sex marriage was solemnised; and

(b) if the proceedings were a de facto financial cause—as if anything done before the recognition time for the purposes of a provision of Part VIIIAB of that Act (except Division 4 of that Part) had been done for the purposes of the corresponding provision of Part VIII of that Act.

Note 1: Part VIII of that Act is about property, spousal maintenance and maintenance agreements relating to a marriage. Part VIIIAB of that Act is about financial matters relating to de facto relationships. Division 4 of that Part is about financial agreements.

Note 2: Item 5 of this Schedule deals with financial agreements.

3 Cessation of maintenance at recognition time

(1 ) If:

(a) before the recognition time, an order was made under Part VIII of the Family Law Act 1975 with respect to the maintenance of a party to a marriage; and

(b) the party later became party to a pre-commencement same-sex marriage;

subsections 82(4), (6), (7) and (8) of that Act apply in relation to the order as if the party had remarried at the recognition time.

(2) If:

(a) before the recognition time, an order was made under Division 2 of Part VIIIAB of the Family Law Act 1975 with respect to the maintenance of a party (the receiving party) to a de facto relationship; and

(b) the receiving party later became party to a pre-commencement same-sex marriage with someone who was not a party to the de facto relationship;

subsections 90SJ(2), (3), (4) and (5) of that Act apply in relation to the order as if the receiving party had married at the recognition time.

4 Recognition of overseas divorces, annulments and legal separations relating to pre-commencement same-sex marriages

(1) To avoid doubt, subsection 104(3) of the Family Law Act 1975 extends to a divorce,

annulment or legal separation relating to a pre-commencement same-sex marriage, even if:

(a) the relevant date (as defined in section 104 of that Act) was before the recognition time; or

(b) the divorce, annulment or legal separation occurred before the recognition time.

(2) The Family Law Act 1975 applies as if subsection 104(3) of that Act also provided for a

divorce effected in accordance with the law of an overseas jurisdiction to be recognised as valid in Australia if the divorce related to a pre-commencement same-sex marriage and was effected before the recognition time.

(3) For the purposes of the application of subsection 104(4) of the Family Law Act 1975 in

relation to subsection 104(3) of that Act as it applies because of subitem (2), the mere fact that the divorce relates to a pre-commencement same-sex marriage does not mean that recognition of the divorce would manifestly be contrary to public policy.

5 Financial agreements and separation declarations

(1 ) This item applies if

(a) before the recognition time, the parties to a pre-commencement same-sex marriage made a Part VIIIAB financial agreement relating to a contemplated, actual or former de facto relationship between them:

  (i) whether or not they were parties to the pre-commencement same-sex marriage at the time they made the agreement; and

  (ii) whether or not anyone else is a party to the agreement; and

(b) under section 9OUJ of the Family Law Act 1975, the agreement is binding on the

parties to the agreement immediately before the recognition time.

(2) For the purposes of a law of the Commonwealth (including the Family Law Act 1975) at and

after the recognition time, the agreement, with the necessary changes, is taken:

(a) to be a financial agreement made under Part VIIIA of that Act relating to a

contemplated, actual or former marriage between the parties to the pre-commencement same-sex marriage; and

(b) to be binding on the parties to the agreement under section 90G of that Act until the

agreement is terminated or set aside in accordance with that Act.

(3) However, the agreement is taken not to include a provision that deals with a matter that could not validly have been dealt with in a Part VIIIAB financial agreement, even if the matter could validly be dealt with in a financial agreement.

(4) Section 90E of the Family Law Act 1975 does not apply in relation to the agreement at and after the recognition time if the agreement was covered by section 90UE (agreements made in non-referring States that become Part VIIIAB financial agreements) of that Act before that time.

Note: Section 90E and subsection 90UH(1) of that Act set out requirements for provisions in agreements relating to the

maintenance of a party or a child or children. Subsection 90UH(1) does not apply in relation to a Part VIIIAB financial agreement covered by section 90UE.

(5) lf, before the recognition time, a separation declaration was made, as described in

section 90UF of the Family Law Act 1975, for the purposes of giving effect to the agreement (whether the declaration was included in the agreement or not), the declaration is taken on and after that time to be a separation declaration made as described in section 90DA of that Act.

(6) If, before the recognition time, a separation declaration was made as described in

subsection 90MP(8), (9) or (10) of the Family Law Act 1975 in relation to the agreement so far as it is a superannuation agreement for the purposes of Part VIIIB of that Act, the declaration is taken on and after that time to be a separation declaration made as described in

subsection 90MP(3), (4) or (4A) of that Act.

(7) Subitem (6) applies whether the separation declaration was included in the superannuation agreement or not.

Division 3—Matters under the Family Court Act 1997 (WA)

6 Proceedings pending under the Family Court Act 1997 (WA) before the recognition time

Application

(1) This item applies to proceedings in a court (the WA court) that:

(a) were pending under the Family Court Act 1997 (WA) (the WA Act) immediately before the recognition time; and

(b) related to a de facto relationship that:

  (i) existed before or when the proceedings were instituted; and

  (ii) was between 2 persons who were parties to a single pre-commencement same-sex marriage solemnised before the proceedings were instituted.

Continuation of proceedings under the Family Law Act 1975

(2) The proceedings continue under the Family Law Act 1975 (the Commonwealth Act) at and

after the recognition time:

(a) as if they related to a marriage that had been solemnised when the pre-commencement same-sex marriage was solemnised; and

(b) if the proceedings were Part 5A proceedings (within the meaning of the WA Act)— as if anything done before the recognition time for the purposes of a provision of Part 5A of the WA Act (except Division 3 of that Part) had been done for the purposes of the corresponding provision of Part VIII of the Commonwealth Act.

Note 1: Part VIII of the Commonwealth Act is about property, spousal maintenance and maintenance agreements relating to a marriage. Part SA of the WA Act is about financial matters relating to de facto relationships. Division 3 of that Part is about financial agreements.

Note 2: Item 8 of this Schedule deals with financial agreements made under Division 3 of Part 5A of the WA Act.

(3) The WA court is invested with jurisdiction to hear and determine the proceedings as continued

under subitem (2).

(4) Any decision validly made by a court before the recognition time about the admissibility of

particular evidence in the proceedings continues to have effect for the purposes of the proceedings after that time.

(5) In performing duties or exercising powers in relation to the proceedings under the

Commonwealth Act, a court may ask questions of, and seek evidence or the production of documents or other things from, parties, witnesses and experts on matters relevant to the proceedings.

Appeal proceedings in Court of Appeal

(6) If the proceedings were an appeal instituted in, or made to, the Court of Appeal under Part 7 of

the WA Act, that Court may, on the application of a party or of its own motion, refer the appeal to a Full Court of the Family Court of Australia.

(7) If an appeal is referred to a Full Court of the Family Court of Australia under subitem (6):

(a) jurisdiction is conferred on the Court to hear and determine the appeal; and

(b) the following provisions of the Commonwealth Act, and the standard Rules of Court made for the purposes of those provisions, apply in relation to the appeal as if it were an appeal referred to in subsection 94(1) of that Act:

  (i) subsection 93A(2);

  (ii) section 94, except subsections 94(1), (IAA), (1A) and (3);

  (iii) section 94AAB;

  (iv) section 96AA; and

(c) the Full Court may proceed by way of a hearing de novo, but may receive as evidence any record of evidence given, including any affidavit filed or exhibit received in the Court of Appeal or the court from which the appeal lay.

(8) However, subsection 94(2) of the Commonwealth Act applying because of subitem (7) does

not permit the Full Court to order a re-hearing by the Court of Appeal.

This item does not apply to proceedings about guardians

(9) Despite subitem (1), this item does not apply to so much of the proceedings as relate to the

appointment or removal under section 71 of the WA Act of a guardian.

7 Cessation of maintenance at recognition time If:

(a) before the recognition time, an order was made under Division 2 of Part 5A of the Family Court Act 1997 (WA) with respect to the maintenance of a party (the receiving party) to a de facto relationship; and

(b) the receiving party later became party to a pre-commencement same-sex marriage with someone who was not a party to the de facto relationship;

section 82 of the Family Law Act 1975 applies in relation to the order as if it were an order with respect to the maintenance of a party to a marriage and the party had remarried at the recognition time.

8 Financial agreements and separation declarations

(1)This item applies if:

(a) before the recognition time, the parties to a pre-commencement same-sex marriage made a financial agreement within the meaning of Part 5A of the Family Court Act 1997 (WA), or a former financial agreement (within the meaning of that Part), relating to a contemplated, actual or former de facto relationship between them:

  (i) whether or not they were parties to the pre-commencement same-sex marriage at the time they made the agreement; and

  (ii) whether or not anyone else is a party to the agreement; and

(b) under section 205ZS of that Act, the agreement is binding on the parties to the agreement immediately before the recognition time.

(2) For the purposes of a law of the Commonwealth (including the Family Law Act 1975) at and

after the recognition time, the agreement, with the necessary changes, is taken:

(a) to be a financial agreement made under Part VIIIA of that Act relating to a contemplated, actual or former marriage between the parties to the pre-commencement same-sex marriage; and

(b) to be binding on the parties to the agreement under section 90G of that Act until the agreement is terminated or set aside in accordance with that Act.

(3) However, the agreement is taken not to include a provision that deals with a matter that could

not validly have been dealt with in a financial agreement within the meaning of Part 5A of the Family Court Act 1997 (WA), even if the matter could validly be dealt with in a financial agreement within the meaning of the Family Law Act 1975.

(4) If the agreement was a former financial agreement (within the meaning of Part 5A of the

Family Court Act 1997 (WA)), then section 90E of the Family Law Act 1975 (requirements for provisions in agreements relating to the maintenance of a party or a child or children) does not apply in relation to the agreement.

(5) Section 90DA (need for separation declaration) of the Family Law Act 1975 does not apply in

relation to the agreement unless the spouse parties separate, and begin living separately and apart, at or after the recognition time.

Part 2—Other transitional provisions

9 Second marriage ceremonies for certain marriages by foreign diplomatic or

consular officers that occurred in Australia before commencement

(1) This item applies to a marriage (within the meaning of the Marriage Act 1961, as amended by

this Act) that was solemnised:

(a) in Australia, before the commencement of this item; and

(b) by or in the presence of a diplomatic or consular officer of a foreign country (whether or not the country was a proclaimed overseas country at the time the marriage was solemnised).

(2) Subsections 113(2) and (5) of the Marriage Act 1961, as in force on and after the

commencement of this item, apply in relation to the marriage as if it took place outside Australia.

Part 3—Transitional rules

10 Transitional rules

(1) The Attorney-General may, by legislative instrument, make rules (transitional rules)

prescribing matters of a transitional nature (including prescribing any saving or application provisions) relating to the amendments or repeals made by this Act.

(2) To avoid doubt, the transitional rules may not do the following:

(a) create an offence or civil penalty;

(b) provide powers of:

  (i) arrest or detention; or

  (ii) entry, search or seizure;

(c) impose a tax;

(d) set an amount to be appropriated from the Consolidated Revenue Fund under an appropriation in this Act;

(e) directly amend the text of an Act.

(3) Subsection 12(2) (retrospective appl