Fed:Greig calls for Australia to follow UK on same sex couples
CANBERRA, Dec 8 AAP - Australian Democrats senator Brian Greig today urged Australiato follow Britain's example and move towards recognising gay marriages.
Senator Greig is one of a small group of openly gay politicians.
He said the British decision further isolated Australia as one of the few western countrieswith no national anti-discrimination laws to protect people from harassment and discriminationon the grounds of their sexuality.
"Every state and territory in Australia to varying degrees now legally recognises samesex partnerships or they have announced their intention to do so," he said.
"The federal parliament is now behind the states and the territories in this human rights area."
The British government announced last week it would consider whether gay couples shouldbe allowed to register their partnerships and enjoy some of the legal rights enjoyed bymarried couples.
Even the opposition Conservatives, long opposed to any extension of gay rights, saidthey would back such measures.
Senator Greig said the Democrats had tried.
"Only two months ago the Democrats moved amendments in the Senate to the federal marriageact to ensure it recognised same sex couples but this was opposed by both the governmentand Labor," he said.
AAP mb/mg/bwl
KEYWORD: UK GAY AUST
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