Australia moves toward Equality for Gays

Changes to Australian federal laws which discriminate against same-sex couples are long overdue, Attorney-General Robert McLelland says. McClelland formally announced on wednesday that amendments to about 100 laws, identified as discriminatory in an audit, would be introduced during the winter session of parliament. "The changes will provide for equality of treatment in wide range of area including superannuation, taxation, social security, workers compensation, pharmaceutical benefits... These will make a practical difference to the lives of a group of fellow Australians who, far too long, have suffered discrimination at a commonwealth level" Mr McClelland told reporters in Canberra. "Discrimination on the basis of sexuality has long been removed from state and territory laws and this will compete the picture by introducing long-overdue reforms to remove discrimination from commonwealth laws." He added the legislative changes would not allow for gay marriage. "These reforms won't change the Marriage Act... We made it clear before the election that the government regards marriage as being between a man and a woman and we don't support any measures that seek to mimic that process."