ࡱ> (*)`  bjbjss 7$   ,  $7 h*    ^ ^ ^ : ^ ^ ^ ^  p$( ^ 0 ^ > ^ ^ ,0"^   T  d<d< SUBMISSION TO SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS INQUIRY My partner and I are not recognised as a couple. My superannuation fund First State does not allow me to give my benefits to my partner when I die as Im a public servant. I should be able to choose who I want to receive my money when I die, its my right. If I want to leave him money I would need to leave it through a will on my estate. I dont have one at this stage. Secondly as a single person paying taxes I pay higher taxes as I am considered single even though I have spent 12 years will two partners. I am not receiving the same benefits as hetero couples even though I heavily support my partner financilly I pay very high taxes. Similarly we pay the medicare levy as two individuals rather than a couple. This places financial stress on both of us. These examples position us as second grade citizens even though we participate in the community like everyone else. We do not have the same rights and are not considered as a couple even though we are by our family and friends. Why wont society? The law needs to recognise same sex couples in these and other areas of law and not treat us as second class. We contribute to society more than what we get back in return. [Name withheld]  hj`h^9hj`CJOJQJ^JaJ-. & ' 7$8$H$gd^9 7$8$H$gdj`  50P:pj`/ =!"#$% @@@ NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DAD Default Paragraph FontRiR  Table Normal4 l4a (k(No ListH@H ^9 Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJ z-.&'!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!1!-.&'00000000000-.&'h0h0h0h0h0h0h0h0h0h0h0   8@0(  B S  ?Vw,WwL Xw vv|{9*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttagsplace=*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags PlaceName=*urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags PlaceType p ":N^9j`>@O;;`@UnknownGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z Arial?5 z Courier New5& zaTahoma"qh;&;&!24d2X)?j`2Oh+'0d   , 8DLT\ Normal.dot4Microsoft Office Word@F#@r@r՜.+,0 px    Title  !"%Root Entry F`%''1Table WordDocument7SummaryInformation(DocumentSummaryInformation8CompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89qRoot Entry F`:UgB,1Table WordDocument7SummaryInformation( +DocumentSummaryInformation8pCompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q՜.+,D՜.+,< px    Title4 $,