ŠĻą”±į>ž’ CEž’’’B’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ģ„Į` šæ“bjbjĖsĖs .&©©“’’’’’’¤$$$$$$$ŽDŚŚŚŚ ęŅ $hééé†#ˆ#ˆ#ˆ#ˆ#ˆ#ˆ#$o%h×'*¬#$ééééé¬#$$ŪĮ#} } } é$$†#} é†#} } ž"$$J# 0hŸė_–ĘŚ’:#†#×#0$#,(9 :(J#($J#<} ééé¬#¬#s ééé$ééééŅ Ņ Ņ „ V„ Ņ Ņ Ņ V84l"’’’’$$$$$$’’’’  26 May 2006 Same-Sex Inquiry Human Rights Unit Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001 Via email: samesex@humanrights.gov.au Dear Sir/Madam Re: National Inquiry into Discrimination against People in Same-Sex Relationships: Financial and Work-Related Entitlements and Benefits Thank you for the opportunity to submit to this important inquiry. I wish to draw attention to the situation of same sex partnerships where one partner is not an Australian citizen. For the last 4 years I have lived with a Thai National in Hong Kong [details removed]. The only way for us to be together under Hong Kong law was for me to formally apply for my partner to be employed by me as my Domestic Helper. This process took many months to organise, but his visa was finally approved, albeit reluctantly. When it comes time to visit family and friends in Australia, unnecessary difficulties arise. Because my relationship isn’t recognised in any way by Australian law, I must apply to the Australian Embassy in Hong Kong for a Domestic Helper Visa. Such visas are of 4 weeks duration and are offered only twice in any year. I can deal with easily enough by planning my stays to last no longer than 30 days, but should I have to? It seems blatantly discriminatory that I cannot enter my home country with my partner, unless I do so claiming him as my Domestic Helper. I just wish to enter Australia with my partner; his sexuality should not come into it. Planning ahead after my retirement is fraught with similar hurdles. The Immigration Act, as I read it, does not accommodate couples in my situation. If I were a heterosexual male, I would be permitted to bring my partner, de-facto, wife, to Australia to live, provided I could supply the necessary documentation. Whether that relationship was six months old or more would hardly matter. Because I am gay, I have no rights under Australian Immigration Law is it now stands. If I wish to return to Australia after retirement, I must do so without my partner. Of course, this is out of the question for us. When I approached the Embassy here in Hong Kong on this matter, I was told that I must provide documentation to prove the length of our relationship. That’s fine I replied, I have no issue with Australia being thorough and careful on immigration matters. I suggested I could easily provide my partner’s Work Contracts and passport entries showing multiple entries to Australia over a four-year period. That won’t be recognised I was told. These documents merely show you brought your employee to Australia. This doesn’t prove any personal relationship exists. It seems my relationship doesn’t exist in the eyes of the Australian Government and Immigration officials. I am now taking the following action: 1. Asking for airline documents over a 4 year period which demonstrate all travel has been in the company of my partner. 2. Hotel documents showing shared rooms with my partner on all occasions. 3. Applying for Credit Cards for my partner, linked to my accounts. 4. Considering property purchasing in both our names within Australia. Any couple must provide proof of identity and of relationship; I understand this. My objection is that my relationship is deemed so unworthy and so insignificant that I must go to extraordinary lengths just to prove its existence. I would like to look forward to retirement in a few years in Australia and to know that my relationship will be: a. Recognised b. Equal in law to heterosexual relationships where no marriage has taken place. That is, recognised on merit with heterosexual defacto relationships. I am not asking for same sex marriages to be recognised; the term marriage to me, applies to heterosexual couples. I do expect that my relationship of a certain number of years be recognised alongside similar relationships between a male and female. A legally recognised union between same sex couples is what I seek. As it is, I must look elsewhere when planning my retirement. It saddens me that this discrimination exists in Australia in 2006. It is quite astonishing really, that I must even write this letter so basic is it’s premise; so fundamental it’s call for basic human rights. I will, out of necessity, look to retirement in Thailand in all probability. Living in the country of my birth with my chosen partner will be an option denied. I sincerely hope that the current discriminatory Australian law will be reviewed and overturned, allowing same sex couples the rights and dignity we believe are fundamental. We thank you for taking into account our submission. We eagerly await the final report, and look forward to the removal of all areas of discrimination in Commonwealth law. Yours sincerely, [Name Withheld] < N <€ Ŗ«Æ“üųüšüģčģüh_DhuŁh§»h}N5hŚåh}N !3an~„¦§Ø·ø@ A „ … ų ł ß ą B C   żżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżūżżżżżöżżżżgdŚå“ż  ‚ ƒ w Ī deSTŖ-.ÄĄĮęē`aĢĶól¶śAB”żżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżż”)*›©@A“;<€‘Ž12ąįŽŸ °±²³“żżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżżż,1h°Š/ °ą=!°"°# $ %°°Š°Š Š†œ@@ń’@ §»NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DAņ’”D Default Paragraph FontRió’³R  Table Normalö4Ö l4Öaö (kō’Į(No List4B@ņ4 §» Body Text5\H™H uŁ Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJ“&’’’’ ’’ z™ ’’ z™ ’’ z™e“ī!3an~„¦§Ø·ø@A„…ųłßąBC ‚ƒwĪdeSTŖ-.ÄĄ Į ę ē ` a Ģ Ķ ó l ¶ ś A B ” ) * › © @A“;<€‘Ž12ąįŽŸ °±²³¶Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬Ą!¬!3an~„¦§Ø·ø@A„…ųłßąBC ‚ƒwĪdeSTŖ-.ÄĄ Į ę ē ` a Ģ Ķ ó l ¶ ś A B ” ) * › © @A“;<€‘Ž12ąįŽŸ °±²³¶˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€!3an~„¦§Ø·ø@A„…ųłßąBC ‚ƒwĪdeSTŖ-.ÄĄ Į ę ē ` a Ģ Ķ ó l ¶ ś A B ” ) * › © @A“;<€‘Ž12ąįŽŸ °±²³¶˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€˜0€€€“  ”““š8š@ń’’’€€€÷š’šš0š( š ššB šS šæĖ’ ?šФ¶ŁŚ 9 QU‡’¶::::¦¦<N Æ³¶¶agĒ4Źž¢!’’’’’’’’’„Š„˜žĘŠ^„Š`„˜žOJPJQJ^Jo(·š€ „ „˜žĘ ^„ `„˜žOJQJo(o€ „p„˜žĘp^„p`„˜žOJQJo(§š€ „@ „˜žĘ@ ^„@ `„˜žOJQJo(·š€ „„˜žĘ^„`„˜žOJQJo(o€ „ą„˜žĘą^„ą`„˜žOJQJo(§š€ „°„˜žĘ°^„°`„˜žOJQJo(·š€ „€„˜žĘ€^„€`„˜žOJQJo(o€ „P„˜žĘP^„P`„˜žOJQJo(§šagĒ4’’’’’’’’          å}Nžk>_D™hyœK“„{›_ĢuŁŚå’@€N “€@’’Unknown’’’’’’’’’’’’G‡z €’Times New Roman5€Symbol3& ‡z €’Arial5& ‡za€’Tahoma?5 ‡z €’Courier New;€Wingdings qˆšŠhøŗ¦¦øŗ¦¦$8q$8q!š„Ą““€24d||T2ƒQšˆP š’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’EwÓ2’’ ž’ą…ŸņłOh«‘+'³Ł0ą!ذ !¼Ø!ČČ! 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Š!ä  Normal.dot1Microsoft Office Word$Gp ’’’’VT$m£ '•  Óą.ū¼"Systemąu„`ŗ&ā‚9ØÜ³ -ūœ’@Times New Roman-  2 ²īģČ 0- 2 %īģČ 0-2 ˜ī ģČ26 May 200622Y-02222 2 ˜ģČ 0. 2 īģČ 0- 2 ~īģČ 0-2 ńīģČSame8,N, 2 ńĢģČ-0!2 ńķ ģČSex Inquiry8,3222#0 2 ńĀģČ 0.%2 dīģČHuman Rights UnitH2N,2C12'H2 2 dżģČ 0-O2 ×ī-ģČHuman Rights and Equal Opportunity CommissionH2N,2C12',22=22,H222!220C2NN''22 2 ×ó ģČ 0-2 Jī ģČGPO Box 5218H8HB232222 2 JWģČ 0-"2 ½īģČSydney NSW 20019022.0H8_2222 2 ½ņģČ 0- 2 0īģČ 0-C2 £ī%ģČVia email: samesex@humanrights.gov.auH,,N,',N,',3\22N,2!12'122,2 2 £r ģČ 0. 2 īģČ 0- 2 ‰īģČ 0- 2 üīģČ 0- 2 o īģČDear Sir/MadamH,,!8!Y,3,N 2 o ‹ģČ 0- 2 ā īģČ 0-ūœ’¼@Times New Roman-j2 W ī?ģČRe: National Inquiry into Discrimination against People in SameH,!H2!282'888,27!2H',,R82!282228'!=,28,882R- 2 W ² ģČ-0!2 W Ó ģČSex Rela8,2H,22 W E ģČtionships: !28'88'!&2 Ź īģČFinancial and Work<828,2288d2,8 2 Ź LģČ-0!=2 Ź m!ģČRelated Entitlements and BenefitsvH,2!,8C8!!,S,8!'288C,8,"!' 2 Ź  ģČ 05- 2 ; īģČ 0-n2 ® īBģČThank you for the opportunity to submit to this important inquiry.=2,22032!2!2,2223!2202'22N22'M22!,2222"0 2 ® 9 ģČ 0. 2 ! īģČ 0-•2 ” ī\ģČI wish to draw attention to the situation of same sex partnerships where one partner is not H'222!,H,,22222,'2,222!',N,'-32,!2,!'22'H2,!,23-2,!2,!'22,2  īģČan Australian citizen.,2H2'!,,2,-,2 2  BģČ 0. 2 z īģČ 0-2 ķ īģČFor thea72!2,e2 ķ <ģČ last 4 years I have lived with a Thai National in Hong Kong,'20-,!' 3,3,2,2H2,=2,H,32,2H221H231&2 ķ ~ ģČ [details removed]"2,,'!,N22,2"2 ķ WģČ. ‰2 `īTģČThe only way for us to be together under Hong Kong law was for me to formally apply =2,220H.0!3!2'22,22,2,!222-!H231I221,HH,'!3!N,2!3!N,0,220b2 Óī:ģČfor my partner to be employed by me as my Domestic Helper.!2!O03,!2-!22,,N330,240N,,'O0H2N,',H,2,! 2 ÓŸ ģČ 0. 2 FīģČ 0-;2 ¹ī ģČThis process took many months to=2'2!2,,''222N,40N222'2[2 ¹N5ģČ organise, but his visa was finally approved, albeit .2!1,2',223'2',H,'!2,0,22!23,2,2,2 ,ī ģČreluctantly.!,2,,20 2 ,²ģČ 0. 2 ŸīģČ 0-•2 ī\ģČWhen it comes time to visit family and friends in Australia, unnecessary difficulties arise._2,2,2N,'N,22'!,N0,22"!,22'2H2'!,,222,-,'',#02!!,2,',!', 2 óģČ 0.Ž2 …īWģČBecause my relationship isn’t recognised in any way by Australian law, I must apply to B,-,2',P0",,22'22'2!!,,312',22,40I-040H2'!,,2,H N2',22022 ųī ģČthe Austr2,H2'!|2 ų_KģČalian Embassy in Hong Kong for a Domestic Helper Visa. Such visas are of 4 ,,2=N2,')02H221H231!2!,H2N,',H,2,!H',82,23',',!,2!2\2 kī6ģČweeks duration and are offered only twice in any year.H,,2'22",22,22,",3!!,",2220H,,2,400--! 2 kn ģČ 0. 2 ŽīģČ 0-Ž2 QīWģČI can deal with easily enough by planning my stays to last no longer than 30 days, but ,,22-,H2,,'0,23212402,2231P0'.1'2,'22221,!2,2322-0'22D2 Äī&ģČshould I have to? It seems blatantly d'22222,3,2.'-,O'2,,202V2 ÄĮ2ģČiscriminatory that I cannot enter my home country ',!N2,2#12,,,222,2-!P032N,,222#0q2 7īDģČwith my partner, unless I do so claiming him as my Domestic Helper. H2O02,!2-!22,'' 22'2,,N212N,'O0H2N,',H,2,! 2 7å ģČ 0.Œ2 ŖīVģČI just wish to enter Australia with my partner; his sexuality should not come into it. 2'H'22,2,!H2'",,H2O02-!2,!2'',32,/'222222,2O,22 2 ŖļģČ 0-V2 ī2ģČPlanning ahead after my retirement is fraught with8,2221,2-,2,!,!P0!,!,N,2'!",312H2%2 Ń ģČ similar hurdles.'N,!22!2,' 2 X ģČ 0- 2 īģČ 0-ƒ2 īPģČThe Immigration Act, as I read it, does not accommodate couples in my situation.=2, NN1",22H,,' !,,222,'22-,,2ON22,,,222,'2O0'2,22 2 °ģČ 0- 2 vīģČ 0--ČČģģĒĒėėĘĘźźÅÅééÄÄččĆĆēēĀĀęęĮĮååĄĄää æ æć ć  ¾ ¾ā ā  ½ ½į į  ¼ ¼ą ą  » »ß ß ŗŗŽŽ¹¹ŻŻøøÜÜ··ŪŪ¶¶ŚŚž’ÕĶ՜.“—+,ł®0ü px„Œ”œ¤ ¬“¼Ä Ģ Üä q8|Ø  Title ž’’’ !"#$%&'(ž’’’*+,-./0123456789G’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ż’’’Dž’’’ž’’’ž’’’ž’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’Root Entry’’’’’’’’ ĄF`9 †h–ĘFĄ1Table’’’’’’’’(WordDocument’’’’’’’’.&SummaryInformation(’’’’)"DocumentSummaryInformation8’’’’’’’’’’’’,CompObj’’’’’’’’’’’’q’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’’’ž’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ž’ ’’’’ ĄFMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.8ō9²qž’ÕĶ՜.“—+,ł®0ü px„Œ”œ¤ ¬“¼Ä Ģ Üä q8|Ø  Title