ࡱ> ,.-` bjbjss . PPPP \ @tttttttt$h^ *)tt))tt):tt)th @\Pc"0@   0t>tBttt ttt@))))$,$,$ Dear HREOC, Firstly, thankyou so much for conducting this inquiry into Australia`s treatment of same sex couples. I have been incensed by the recent moves by the Australian government in relation to same-sex civil unions in the ACT. Any inquiry to expose the very real affect this, and other discriminatory laws, have on our lives should be commended. While it is not often recognised, the denial of marriage to same-sex couples has significant financial ramifications. Quite apart from superannuation and social security benefits, access to marriage itself would help my partner and I save thousands of dollars each year. I have been living and working in Japan for some time now, and my American partner joined me here earlier this year. While I have permission to work here, my partner has been unsuccessful in obtaining either a work visa, or even a student visa. Were we a heterosexual couple, we could get married and he would receive a spouse visa that would allow him to work and live in Japan as long as I do. However, as we are denied access to marriage and even civil unions, it is impossible for me to obtain a spouse visa for my partner. This means that for us to live together, I must be the sole breadwinner, and my partner must leave Japan every three months to renew his tourist visa. On one wage, it is a high financial burden to pay for an international trip every three months. Furthermore, Japanese immigration officials at border control become increasingly suspicious of my partner`s reasons for coming to Japan. This leaves us in a financially weak position, at the whim of the Japanese immigration department. Incidentally, it is my understanding that the Japanese immigration department would accept any Australian marriage documentation for a same-sex couple. My communication with them indicates that because Japan recognises any Australian marriage, the issue of the gender of both parties is a moot point. Some would argue that were we to live in Australia, this would never be a problem. It is true the Australia allows same-sex couples to immigrate under the interdependent visa category. However, I have specialised in Japanese studies at university, and I regard it as unfair that Australia`s policy on same-sex marriage necessitates my premature departure from my chosen country of residence. While I wholeheartedly commend moves to achieve equality in superannuation, social security and other such areas, I would like to stress that the denial of marriage to same-sex couples also has a tangible financial impact on same-sex couples. I notice that the terms of reference in this inquiry do not specifically include same-sex marriage. However, I hope my submission will alert HREOC to the financial impacts incurred by people in my position as a result of Australia`s discriminatory policy on same-sex marriage. As a country with a significant number of its citizens living abroad, I doubt this problem is isolated to my own situation. Australians abroad act as informal ambassadors for out nation, and I find it hard to imagine how impoverishing a proportion of its ex-pat community can enrich Australia, or improve its image abroad. Indeed, it means people such as myself, who would otherwise be building strong links between Australian and its many trading partners, are forced to abandon their endeavours overseas and return home. Access to marriage for same sex couples is not just a symbolic change, but would provide significant financial benefits for many ex-pats and their partners. Regards, Matt Douglas h}hV',1h. A!"#$% @@@ NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DAD Default Paragraph FontRiR  Table Normal4 l4a (k(No List  "& "& ) ;r  0 h0   B$_ B$\ B$l B$\ B$D B$,B$<B$ԄB$ĊB$ćB$ԍB$\B$B$\11B B      66K K  B *urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagscountry-region9*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplace        HS  :: Cn}7Rq0V'@x P@UnknownGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z Arial"qhV3V3F ;F ;24 2P)?V'2Oh+'0d   , 8DLT\ Normal.dot4Microsoft Office Word@F#@W@WF ՜.+,0 px  ;   Title  !"#$%&)Root Entry F@>\+1TableWordDocument.SummaryInformation(DocumentSummaryInformation8CompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89qRoot Entry F@ϭŠ01TableWordDocument.SummaryInformation( /DocumentSummaryInformation8pCompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q՜.+,D՜.+,< px  ;   Title4 $,