Mr McClelland is in discussions with the ACT Government to remove clauses in its civil partnerships bill that would allow gay couples to hold a public ceremony marking their union.Mr McClelland has told the ACT that the Rudd Government would not allow civil unions, and is pushing for a system of state-based relationship registers.It is understood that the ACT is redrafting its bill after being warned by the federal Government that it will intervene to override civil unions.
I don’t like the sound of this. The ACT government gave us a commitment last month that they wouldn’t throw us under the bus amidst federal pressure. If they go ahead and do it anyway, I’ll be disappointed with them beyond words.
And fuck you, Robert McClelland. How can you say with a straight face that you want to eliminate discrimination and then in the same breath reaffirm support for your attempt to strongarm the ACT government into forcing the most obvious display of second-class citizenship on our community?
I suggest a round of firmly worded emails to Stanhope (stanhope@act.gov.au) and the Assembly are in order. I’ve just sent one off….
Yeah, probably the way to go.
I think it might be time for a second rally though. The tone of that article sounds pretty damned ominous.
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