NEWS and INFORMATION
Same Sex Couples Recognised by CENTRELINK from 1 July 2009
It has taken an Australian Labor Government to introduce wide ranging changes to the body laws which previously discriminated against same sex couples. The changes, recognise ALL COUPLES regardless of sexual orientation.
The changes, to the be introduced from 1 July 2009, bring equality of entitlement to those accessing Federal Government t pension and/or welfare benefits. There will be implications for some existing Centrelink customers. The Centrelink web site provides detailed information provides information in a Question-and-Answer format on how the same-sex law reforms may affect Centrelink payments you currently receive. More.....
Centrelink changes discussed on ABC Radio National Life Matters
Listen again to the discussion of the issues and consequences of the new changes HERE... and Centrelink's response HERE....
Owning Property Together
Owning property together has many implications if a relationship breakdown:
- You may share joint bank accounts, this means the money is jointly owned
- You may purchase a property together with both your names on the title and if you do this you will need to decide whether you will own the property as:
- a joint tenancy (you both own the whole property and it can only be sold as a whole, OR
- tenancy in common ( where you own separate shares in the property.
- You might purchase goods or other assets (artworks items of furniture) together or separately
The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby and the Law Institute of Victoria detail your rights and entitlements on their Web Site. More....
Health and well-being for Same Sex Attracted men and women (Gay Lesbian and Bisexual)
The Australian BEYOND BLUE program undertakes and publishes research relating to mental health and depression. BEYOND BLUE says that "the health problems of gay, lesbian and bisexual people are different from those of heterosexual people" . The degree to which same sex attracted people experience mental health issues compared with heterosexual young people can be significantly higher. More....
Adding $alue to the wider community!
Regular visitors to our site may recall our exchanges with the former local Liberal Member of the Victorian State Parliament, the homophobic, but non the less Hon. Gary Spry. Spry went into apoplexy over the suggestion by the local tourism authority that Queenscliff foster the "Gay" market and thereby attract the so called "pink dollar".
Fortunately, Spry retired and his seat was lost to the Labor Party. The Victorian Labor Government subsequently established it credentials with the Gay Community by ensuring appropriate legislation was introduced and passed through the parliament to protect the rights of same sex couples in relationships.
Both The Age and The Weekend Australian have carried reports commenting on the 2001 Census data. Using Australia's 2001 Commonwealth Census data, a report from researcher, National Economics found that 8.8 per cent of inner Melbourne couples were same-sex, higher than Sydney on 5.9 per cent and San Francisco on 5.4 per cent.
The Age noted that the report argues that creative capital has become one of the most important drivers of a region's financial success. The author, Peter Brain, said cities such as Melbourne with cultural, sexual, ethnic and artistic diversity coupled with a vibrant street culture and night life tended to attract innovation and businesses searching for skilled and creative workers.
The Australian reports that American research holds that the number of gay couples in a locality is a key indicator of the creative class.
The 2001 Census showed gays and lesbians worked most in culture and recreation followed by education, health and community services, government and the new economy (business services, marketing, legal services and management advisory services).