HOWARD'S DOUBLE STANDARDS 27 May 04

[Clark, Allen (M. Organ, MP)]

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HOWARD'S DOUBLE STANDARDS

Prime Minister John Howard stands condemned by his own double standards
on the rights of people in same sex relationships, Cunningham MP Michael
Organ said today.

"The Prime Minister is prepared to change the law to give same sex
couples the same rights as other people to their partner's
superannuation, yet he refuses to extend that to Veterans Affairs
entitlements", Mr. Organ said.

"When I asked the Prime Minister this afternoon if he was aware of the
UN Human Rights Committee's finding of 18 September 2003 in the Edward
Young case that Australia is in breach of Article 26 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by refusing to
recognise that he is entitled to a Veterans Affairs pension due to his
deceased same sex partner of 38 years war service in Borneo during World
War 2, he replied in the affirmative."

"It is a measure of the Prime Minister's double standards that he
refused to countenance changing the system to correct this glaring
inequity, despite saying that he was amending superannuation
arrangements to take account of relationships that can be regarded as
characterising financial inter-dependency", Mr. Organ said.

More from:
Michael Organ MP 02 6277 4366, 0439 442 550
Allen Clark (Media Adviser) 0439 464 439
www.michaelorgan.org.au



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