ࡱ> PNQ` bjbjss 4$```t tv/ / / $hf)`' "/ '')/>,'R`'>"` Pe7j<G@`X/ q l J/ / / ))/ / / ''''ttttttttt   10th June, 2006 Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council Inc. (AGMC Inc.) PO Box 342, Carlton South. 3053. Victoria  HYPERLINK "mailto:contact@agmc.org.au" contact@agmc.org.au Dear HREOC, RE: Submission to the Same Sex-Same Entitlements Inquiry. Thank you for the opportunity to make a public submission to the National Inquiry into Discrimination against People in Same Sex Relationships: Financial and Work-Related Entitlements and Benefits. Please note that our submission can be made public. The AGMC Inc. is a peak body for individuals/groups from a GLBTIQ multicultural background. The AGMC Inc aims to represent the interests of Australian GLBTIQ individual/groups from a multicultural background, raising their profile within the wider GLBTIQ and multicultural communities. The AGMC Inc. encourages their participation and contribution within GLBTIQ and multicultural communities. In addition, the AGMC Inc. aims to promote, enable and disseminate knowledge on issues relevant to GLBTIQ multicultural individuals/groups through discussion, research, publishing and other means. One of the AGMC's primary functions is to promote, enhance and enable the health and wellbeing of culturally and sexually diverse individuals/groups within an Australian context. It is for this particular reason that we are making a submission to this enquiry. As GLBTIQ from a Multicultural background we have the privilege of being blessed because of our culture, sexuality and gender identity. However, alongside this privilege we are often times confronted with discriminatory practices based on our 'blessings'. Within multicultural communities the importance ofcreating a family tends to be seen as a significant step and hence an important part of our lives as GLBTIQ from a multicultural background. Because of this we, as GLBTIQ from a multicultural background want to have the opportunity of creating alegally recognised family under Australian law. We also recognise the importance ofchurch (in all its diverse forms) being separated from 'state' (in all its diverse forms). Beliefs and creeds are varied but specific to certain viewpoints and we agree that everyone has a right to practice what they believe in. However the Government has a responsibility to represent all of its constituents regardless of beliefs and creeds (amongst other things) and 'church' should not be 'married' to 'state'. Therefore, so as to represent all of its constituency we believe that to achieve full legal equality all Federal legislation should have terms such as 'spouse', 'partner' 'dependent' , 'family' and 'couple' redefined to include same sex partners and, where relevant, their children. In addition, we as a peak multicultural background cannot understand why the discrepancy with Federal legislation when according to another part of the Federal Government, namely the Dept. of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs same sex partners are able to migrate to Australia as part of the Partner Migration category. DIMA states that 'partner migration allows for the grant of a visa that permits legally married (de jure) partners, de facto partners and interdependent partners (including those in a same-sex relationship) of Australian citizens.....". (Italics ours) Whilst favourably acknowledging DIMA's perspective this legislation is discrepant between the two legislations and seems to be discriminatory in itself. We would need to have it explained to us, why is it, that in certain legislation same-sexpartners are recognised whilst in others they are not? In addition, many countries have legislated for same-sex unions making this the equivalent as heterosexual unions. What happens if one of our multicultural members, with dual citizenship, were to legally enter into a same-sex union for example in Spain, to then return to Australia, bringing with them the skills and experience that they have gained overseas? For a period of time, whilst in Spain their marriage was legal but as soon as they return home they are relegated to second class citizen status. This is certainly not in line with Australia's motto of a 'fair go for ALL'. The AGMC inc. could sight so many real life examples of discriminatory practices some of which have been outlined above and lived by our members. The simplest things in life are made cumbersome eg. so as to prove to VicRoads that a member was in a long-term relationship, a Statutory Declaration had to be made. We, the AGMC, deem that the legal recognition of same-sex unions can only but enhance and strengthen 'marriage' from a secular perspective and that it is no threat to Australian society. [Details removed] Yours sincerely cinzia ambrosio president, AGMC Inc.  AGMC Inc. Living & Loving in Diversity Reg No. A0047780G AGMC PO Box 342, Carlton South 3053. VIC E-Mail: contact@agmc.org.au Website: http://www.agmc.org.au   |} mn PW{h9h!*CJOJQJha;CJOJQJ ha;CJha;OJQJha;CJ(OJQJha;5CJ(OJQJh+h73ha;ha;6ha;ha;5 ha;0Jjha;Uha;ha;H*jha;CJUmHnHuha;mH sH ha;!$0$a$gda;K]Kgda;gda;KC$Eƀ^gda;^gda;gda;0HKC$Eƀ^gda;$a$gda;21h:p!*. 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