╨╧рб▒с>■  *,■   +                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ье┴` Ё┐bjbj╦s╦s .йй      дююююююю$фРРРР Ь с ь┤┤┤┤┤┤┤┤` b b b b b b $═ h5*Ж ю┤┤┤┤┤Ж юю┤┤Ы 6 6 6 ┤ ю┤ю┤` 6 ┤` 6 6 юю6 ┤и ╨╕6а└╞Р╛ 6 ` ▒ 0с 6 _╚d_6 6 _ю8 (┤┤6 ┤┤┤┤┤Ж Ж , ┤┤┤с ┤┤┤┤─╠─╠    юююююю     Thank you for this opportunity to share my story in the hope the some changes can be made to create an equal and fair society for all citizens. а My name is Amanda Butcher i am 43 years old, andаi have a same sex relationship. My issue is regarding my comsuper/pension. I served in the Royal Australian Navy for 20 years, iаwas part of the DFRDB fund, which entitled me upon my discharge to either a full pension or a part pension with a cash amountаtransferred into another fund payable on retirement age namely 58 yrs old in my case. а а My issue is that if i was to die before my partner the pension portion of this arrangement would as things stand at the moment stop as under federal legislation same sex couples aren't recognized in this area, but if my partner was male and we complied with the current marriage or defacto criteria then my (male) husband or partner would be entitled to 5/8's of my service pension. I don't believe that just because my partner is a same sex partner that she should be discriminated against and not be entitled to what should legally be hers, ifаmarriage were a legal option for us then we would certainly take that path, but until that change is made the closest we can get is to have a defacto relationship,аwhich is only recongised in certain situations with this not being one. а My partner and i would well and truly meet any defacto criteria as we have joint bank accounts, we have lived together for over four years and have a mortgage together. We are both professionals and contribute to society and pay our taxes the same as any hetrosexual couples do therefore should be entitled to the same benifits and conditions. а This is only one of many inequalities suffered by same sex couples,аbut it is the one is wish to highlight through this submission, i am confident that the other inconsistances in our society will be presented to you thru other submissions, so I hope that this will help in trying to force the change that will bring about equality and fairness for all. а Regards а Amanda Butcher №hг@:РТ  * , ДЖшъЄЇ·············°gdг@:¤,1Рh░В. ░╞A!░"░#Ра$Ра%░░─░─ Р─ЖЬ@@ё @ NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DA@Є бD Default Paragraph FontRiє │R  Table NormalЎ4╓ l4╓aЎ (kЇ ┴(No ListHЩ@ЄH Ёi Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJ       "&гРТ*,ДЖшъЄЇr Нмr Нмr Нмr Нм r Нмr Нмr Нмr Нмr Нмr Нмr Нмr Нмr Нмr НмРТ*,ДЖшъЄЇШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААРТ*,ДЖшъЄЇh╦0Аh╦0Аh╦0Аh╦0Аh╦0Аh╦0Аh╦0Аh╦0Аh╦0Аh╦0Аh╦0Аh╦0Аh╦0А   нн11··66ss  66▓.5┌Rйa ╕b█╜Pж a ╕b█АW┌Rй╜Pж 7c\┌Rйc\I┌RйtHу,┌RйПtj5┌RйkЖ5┌RйhqТC┌Rй·eЎD┌Rй(3фV┌RйАWg7ОW┌Rй┼d─p┌RйфG(r┌RйN7lt┌RйхuC9г@:Ёi 8ё @А  ▄┐с╧╧  p@  Unknown            GРЗz А Times New Roman5РАSymbol3&Р Зz А Arial5&Р ЗzaА Tahoma"ёИЁ╨h╤zиF╤zиFuП"uП"YЁа┤┤ББr4d№№2ГЁ╚X)Ё ?ф                  г@:2  ■ рЕЯЄ∙OhлС+'│┘0dРШд░╝╚╘ш Ї  , 8DLT\ф Normal.dot4Microsoft Office Word@@╬В└╞@╬В└╞uП■ ╒═╒Ь.УЧ+,∙о0° pxДМФЬд м┤╝─ ╠ ┘ф"№и  Title ■   ■   ■    !"#$■   ¤   '■   ■   ■                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Root Entry         └F└9а└╞)А1Table         WordDocument        .SummaryInformation(    DocumentSummaryInformation8            CompObj            q                        ■                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ■       └FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.8Ї9▓qRoot Entry         └F0Ugsk╞╞.1Table         WordDocument        .SummaryInformation(     ■   ■   ■                                                       -¤   ■   ■   ■                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       ■   ■                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   DocumentSummaryInformation8            pCompObj            q                        ■       └FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.8Ї9▓q■ ╒═╒Ь.УЧ+,∙оD╒═╒Ь.УЧ+,∙о<° pxДМФЬд м┤╝─ ╠ ┘ф"№и  Title4 $А,░