[Greens-Media] Assurance sought on gay ceremony override

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT GREENS MLA DEB FOSKEY MEDIA RELEASE
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1 Aug 08



Assurance sought on gay ceremony override

Dr Deb Foskey MLA and Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown have today written
to the Federal Attorney General seeking assurance that if Dr Foskey's
Bill to reinstate statutory civil union ceremonies in the ACT is debated
and passed later this month, the Commonwealth Government would not use
that as an opportunity to override the ACT's existing civil partnerships
registry as well.

"I don't believe there is any good reason to oppose the introduction of
official, statutory ceremonies for those couples wishing to formalise
their civil partnerships, which is why I have tabled a  Bill to allow
such ceremonies" Dr Foskey said today.

"Nonetheless, the Federal Government has expressed concerns about such
provisions, and there is a possibility that if the ACT Assembly supports
my Bill, that Bill might be disallowed in the federal parliament."

"The ACT Labor Government has also said that in such circumstances the
Federal Government might disallow the ACT's entire existing civil
partnerships legislation, including the existing partnership registry."

"While I can't imagine Federal Attorney General Robert McClelland would
countenance such a petty and pointless act, Senator Brown and I have
written to him seeking his assurance that he will not intervene to
overturn the existing registry, in order to remove any final concerns
the ACT Government might have."

"We look forward to his response" Dr Foskey said.

Dr Foskey is speaking at the Canberra civil unions rally, for the 4th
annual National Day of Action for Relationship Equality Saturday 2
August, 1.30pm @ Garema Place, Civic.

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Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
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