The Australian Government will provide $450,000 for a community education campaign to inform same-sex couples about implications of recent reforms to legislation, which enable same-sex couples and their children to be recognised by Commonwealth law.

Under the Government’s reforms to remove discrimination, same-sex couples have the same entitlements and obligations as opposite-sex de facto couples.

We are working hard to ensure all same-sex couples have access to these entitlements and understand their obligations.

The Australian Government’s package of measures complements Centrelink’s extensive information campaign. The measures include:

* a website which provides an overview of the reforms;
* $100,000 for the National Welfare Rights Network to help Centrelink clients with independent and confidential legal advice about the same sex reforms; and
* $350,000 for the development of a community education and advertising program to be developed and managed by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Health Alliance in partnership with a number of community-based organisations.

Centrelink is committed to implementing the same-sex reforms in a sensitive way and has offered additional training to all staff who deal regularly with customers to assist them in dealing sensitively with people in same-sex relationships.

The reforms amend 84 Commonwealth laws to eliminate discrimination against same-sex couples and their children in a wide range of areas, including social security, taxation, Medicare, veteran’s affairs, workers compensation, educational assistance, superannuation, family law and child support.

Information in relation to the same-sex reforms can be found at www.ag.gov.au/samesexreform

Tags: Australian Government, centrelink, equal rights