As we went to press it was announced the Victorian Parliament would debate the state Relationship Registers Bill Wednesday.

The bill will establish a state-wide relationships register for same-sex and heterosexual de facto couples, so they can access their entitlements without the rigmarole currently involved in proving they are in a committed partnership.

Cabinet Secretary and State Labor Member for Prahran, Tony Lupton (pictured left with Victorian premier John Brumby), will be the Lead Speaker for the Government when Parliament debates the Bill..

Lupton said the register built on changes the Victorian Government made in 2001 to remove discrimination against same-sex and de facto couples.

He also thanked the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and other community and stakeholder groups for their on-going input into the debate on relationship recognition in the state,.and acknowledged the work of fellow Labor MPs, Local Government Minister Richard Wynne, Fiona Richardson and Jenny Mikakos in advocating for the register.

“Labor has continually shown strong support for Gay and Lesbian issues in Victoria. We have established the Attorney-General’s and Health Ministers’ Gay and Lesbian Advisory Committees and Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria,” said Mr Lupton.

“The establishment of a state-wide relationships register is yet another important step in ensuring equality for all Victorians,” he said.

The new federal Labor government has committed to encouraging all the states to introduce relationship registries as a precursor to recognising same-sex relationships at federal level.

However, they remain opposed to anything “marriage-like” for fear of offending the Christian lobby.

by DOUG POLLARD