SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS (EQUAL TREATMENT IN COMMONWEALTH LAWS—GENERAL LAW REFORM) BILL 2008

Order of the day read for the consideration of the bill in committee of the whole.

In the committee

Bill taken as a whole by leave.

Explanatory memorandum: The Minister for Climate Change and Water (Senator Wong) tabled a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the government amendments and requests for amendments to be moved to the bill.

Bill debated.

Question—That the bill be agreed to—divided in respect of Schedule 2, Part 1.

Schedule 2, Part 1 negatived.

On the motion of Senator Wong the following amendment was agreed to:

 Clause 2, page 2 (table item 3), omit the table item.

Senator Hanson-Young moved the following amendments together by leave:

 Schedule 2, page 24 (before line 20), before item 76, insert:

 75A Title

  After "marital", insert "or couple".

 75B Preamble

  After "marital" (twice occurring), insert "or couple".

 75C Subsection 3(b)

  After "marital", insert "or couple".

 75D Subsection 4(1) (definition of de facto spouse)

  Repeal the definition.

 75E Subsection 4(1) (definition of marital status)

  Repeal the definition, substitute:

   marital or couple status means the status or condition of being:

 (a) single; or

 (b) married; or

 (c) married but living separately and apart from one's spouse; or

 (d) divorced; or

 (e) widowed; or

 (f) in a registered relationship, in accordance with section 22B of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; or

 (g) in a de facto relationship, in accordance with section 22C of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

 75F Subsection 4(1) (paragraph (b) of the definition of near relative)

  Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

 (b) the spouse of the first-mentioned person or of a person referred to in paragraph (a); or

 (c) a person who is a partner of the first-mentioned person or of a person referred to in paragraph (a):

 (i) in a registered relationship, in accordance with section 22B of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; or

 (ii) in a de facto relationship, in accordance with section 22C of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

 Schedule 2, page 25 (after line 25), after item 81, insert:

 81A Section 6

  After "marital" (wherever occurring), insert "or couple".

Note: The heading to section 6 is altered by omitting "marital status " and substituting "marital or couple status ".

 81B Paragraph 7D(b)

  After "marital", insert "or couple".

 Schedule 2, page 26 (after line 20), after item 83, insert:

 83A Subsection 11(2)

  After "marital", insert "or couple".

 Schedule 2, page 27 (after line 27), after item 84, insert:

 84A Sections 14 to 27, 35, 38, 39, 41A, 41B, 42 and 48

  After "marital" (wherever occurring), insert "or couple".

Question—That the amendments be agreed to—put and negatived.

Senator Hanson-Young moved the following amendment:

 Schedule 2, page 21 (after line 16), after item 60, insert:

Marriage Act 1961

 60A Section 5 (definition of marriage)

  Omit "a man and a woman", substitute "two persons, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity".

 60B Subsection 47(1)

  Omit "a man and a woman", substitute "two persons, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity".

Debate ensued.

Question—That the amendment be agreed to—put.

The committee divided—

Question negatived.

After 6.50 pm: The Acting Deputy President (Senator Parry) resumed the chair and the Chair of Committees (Senator Ferguson) reported progress.