Wednesday
29 September 2010
Hansard
of the Legislative Council
RELATIONSHIPS
AMENDMENT (RECOGNITION OF REGISTERED RELATIONSHIPS) BILL 2010 (No.
21)
Mr FINCH
(Rosevears) - Madam President, I know we are singing from the same
hymn book because the member for Western Tiers took the same quote
from the second reading speech that I was going to include in my
presentation. But I do not see any need for any fuss over this
bill. It is a logical addition to the Tasmanian Relationships
Act. It will affect only a tiny number of people coming to live
in Tasmania each year. As the bill's title suggests it involves
the recognition of registered relationships. It does not
involve the recognition of same-sex marriages as pointed out by the
member for Western Tiers.
Without
this legislation, same-sex couples, say with a relationship
recognised in the United Kingdom, would have to register again if
they came to Tasmania. That involves registering at Service
Tasmania for a cost of about $170. Once approved they receive a
certificate of proof of the deed of relationship which, by the way,
is recognised in certain other States and countries, such as New
Zealand and the UK.
Like
my fellow members, Madam President, I have had quite a bit of
lobbying on this bill from, in fact, both sides - from family as
well, which was quite interesting for me. One submission
suggested that it would be ridiculous if a married couple had to get
married again every time they moved State or country, so that would
be farcical. Another points out that Tasmanian registration of
a same-sex couple is recognised in the UK and says it is only fair
that we should recognise UK registration.
This
bill does not mean that all interstate or overseas registered
relationships will necessarily be recognised in Tasmania. That
was the quote that I was going to take from the second reading speech
about the effect of recognition under Tasmanian law, but the other
bit, too, was:
'Realistically
recognition would only become relevant if the couple actually came to
live in Tasmania. Parties whose relationship is recognised in
Tasmania will be able to simply produce their interstate or overseas
registration papers when needed, to provide evidence of their
relationship.'
As
I pointed out earlier, Madam President, reciprocal registration -
reciprocity - would involve only a tiny minority of visitors.
Like the majority of those in the lower House, I have no problem with
this bill.
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