Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby tell PM: Australians accept same-sex unions
For immediate release: 24 May 2006
The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby has called on Prime Minister John Howard to tell the truth about Australia’s majority support for recognition of same-sex relationships.
In Ireland this week, Howard claimed that most Australians do not support same-sex marriage, and that his government had removed much of the financial discrimination against same-sex couples.
Rights Lobby Co-Convenor Ron Thiele said that the Prime Minister was wrong on both counts.
‘Firstl a February 2006 Newspoll found that a majority of Australians want the Howard Government to formally recognise same-sex relationships. The group most opposed was men over 50. It’s insulting and an abuse of power for one of this group to be labelling the majority of Australians ‘minority fundamentalists’, as the Prime Minister did.
‘Secondly, the Federal Government discriminates against same-sex couples financially in nearly every area of relationship law. That discrimination can cost same-sex couples many thousands of dollars. The situation is so bad that the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is running a major inquiry into it.’
Mr Thiele pointed to the inequality in Medicare, taxation, superannuation, defence forces and veterans’ affairs as examples of the continuing financial harm the Australian Government does to same-sex couples.
‘Advocates of same-sex relationship recognition stand for equality, respect and the strengthening of Australian family and social life. Exploiting the institution of marriage on the world stage to divide Australians, pander to prejudice and deny human rights only damages this important social institution and Australia’s reputation’, Mr Thiele concluded.
MEDIA COMMENT: Ron Thiele 0428 391 470
REFERENCE: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1644777.htm
NEWSPOLL: http://www.secular.org.au/articles/ChurchStatePoll020206.pdf
Question: Do you agree/disagree the Federal Government should introduce a new law to formally recognise same-sex relationships in Australia? 52.5% Agree; 36.6% Disagree; 10.9% Neither/Don't Know.
For immediate release: 24 May 2006
The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby has called on Prime Minister John Howard to tell the truth about Australia’s majority support for recognition of same-sex relationships.
In Ireland this week, Howard claimed that most Australians do not support same-sex marriage, and that his government had removed much of the financial discrimination against same-sex couples.
Rights Lobby Co-Convenor Ron Thiele said that the Prime Minister was wrong on both counts.
‘Firstl a February 2006 Newspoll found that a majority of Australians want the Howard Government to formally recognise same-sex relationships. The group most opposed was men over 50. It’s insulting and an abuse of power for one of this group to be labelling the majority of Australians ‘minority fundamentalists’, as the Prime Minister did.
‘Secondly, the Federal Government discriminates against same-sex couples financially in nearly every area of relationship law. That discrimination can cost same-sex couples many thousands of dollars. The situation is so bad that the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is running a major inquiry into it.’
Mr Thiele pointed to the inequality in Medicare, taxation, superannuation, defence forces and veterans’ affairs as examples of the continuing financial harm the Australian Government does to same-sex couples.
‘Advocates of same-sex relationship recognition stand for equality, respect and the strengthening of Australian family and social life. Exploiting the institution of marriage on the world stage to divide Australians, pander to prejudice and deny human rights only damages this important social institution and Australia’s reputation’, Mr Thiele concluded.
MEDIA COMMENT: Ron Thiele 0428 391 470
REFERENCE: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1644777.htm
NEWSPOLL: http://www.secular.org.au/articles/ChurchStatePoll020206.pdf
Question: Do you agree/disagree the Federal Government should introduce a new law to formally recognise same-sex relationships in Australia? 52.5% Agree; 36.6% Disagree; 10.9% Neither/Don't Know.
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