ࡱ> *,+` bjbjss .P  dk$Wh *%  `F;0k   8 kddd$$ddd.B Brendan Lloyd [Details removed] 15 June'06 To the Human Rights& Equal Opportunity Commission, Re: 'Same-Sex: Same Entitlements' National Inquiry I welcome the chance to comment on the treatment of same-sex couples under Australian law. I believe, in the interests of fairness and mutual prosperity, that same-sex couples should receive equivalent treatment by Australian law as opposite-sex couples (including financial and work-related entitlements). I'm a 27y/o single gay man. As such, I've not yet personally experienced unfair legal disadvantage arising from a same-sex relationship. But I do aspire to a same-sex relationship. So personal disadvantage seems sadly inevitable -- unless current laws change. Current laws that unnecessarily militate against the flourishing of same-sex couples/families. This is evident from an ordinary reading of many parts of Australian law and submissions already made to the Inquiry. Even opponents of same-sex rights admit that current law discriminates against same-sex couples and their children. Perversely, however, they assert without realistic explanation that doing so is somehow in "the common good". Clearly it is not. I support the following: 1. Amendment of legislative provisions within superannuation, health and welfare benefits, family law and taxation, property arrangements, wills, medical consent and any other areas governing financial, medical and personal matters that unreasonably exclude couples on the basis of their gender. 2. Revision of legal definitions for terms such as 'spouse', 'partner' 'dependent', 'family' and 'couple' to include same-sex partners and, where relevant, their children (to the effect that they become fair and consistent across Australian legal jurisdictions and laws). 3. Where laws, entitlements and benefits are intended to specifically support the raising of children, legislation should be explicit to that effect. Eligibility for offspring support entitlements and benefit should require the pre-condition of actually having children (not on relationship status, gender nor 'procreative potential' of the parent/s). I look forward to the Inquiry's report. Please feel free to publish my comments and identity. Brendan Lloyd d` a h}hdJ70JCJOJQJ^JaJh) CJOJQJ^JaJhdJ7CJOJQJ^JaJ,1h. A!"#$% @@@ NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DA@D Default Paragraph FontRiR  Table Normal4 l4a (k(No List*W@* dJ7Strong5\H@H ) Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJ "&+r V0h0    \mJ_e:::::22`awwzzQQKdJ7Cnrp}^@)