Source: ABC News (Australia), Sydney Star Observer
Australia's Senate has passed changes to around 100 federal laws to remove discrimination against same-sex couples, ABC News (Australia) reports.

The changes cover areas like superannuation (pensions), health, employment entitlements, and aged care but do not provide for marriage equality. They were proposed in April by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's Labor Party, which is marking its first anniversary in power this week.

"While this is a very important reform in itself and it'll certainly remove many of the more severe disadvantages faced by same sex couples in Australian today, it's not the end of the matter," Rodney Croome of the Australian Coalition for Equality said of the changes when they were proposed.

The bill will go back to the House of Representatives, before being sent to the Governor General for final approval.

Time was running out for politicians to pass the ambitious equality reforms in 2008 because the current session of parliament will sit for just two more weeks this year, according to Sydney Star Observer.

"It is of vital importance that Parliament passes these bills before the end of the year. Every day that this legislation is delayed, lesbians and gay men all across Australia continue to be discriminated against financially and have their rights ignored simply because of their sexuality," Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby spokesman Peter Johnson said.

"When this legislation passes, the Attorney-General [Robert McClelland], along with all those who have pushed for and supported these reforms, will be responsible for a new age of equality for lesbians and gay men in Australia," Johnson told SSO last week.

The Green Party also praised McClelland for the historic undertaking of human rights reform, even though they didn’t get their wishlist of private superannuation funds, same-sex marriages, and overseas registered relationships included.

Sen. George Brandis, of the opposition Liberal Party (which, despite its name, is the more conservative of Australia's major parties), praised members from his own party's more conservative faction, including Guy Barnett, Kevin Andrews, and Scott Morrison, for coming on board during party room discussions despite being ideologically opposed to recognition of same-sex couples, SSO reports.

"There is no point in introducing law reform designed to heal wounds and to bind society together if you do it in a divisive way. That means that you have to bring people with you," Senator Brandis told Parliament.

Source: Senate passes same-sex laws | ABC News (Australia)
Super equality backdated | Sydney Star Observer

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