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The issue of divorce never arises for same-sex couples, since they cannot legally marry. However, a same-sex couple, like an opposite-sex de facto couple, may need the assistance of a court to resolve property and child-related issues if their relationship breaks down.

As part of the Inquiry’s audit of federal, state and territory laws, the Inquiry has identified a range of laws which potentially discriminate against same-sex couples and families, but do not fall within the previous topic-specific chapters.

Same-sex couples are not eligible for a range of rebates and tax concessions available to opposite-sex couples. This means same-sex couples may end up paying more tax than opposite-sex couples because tax legislation does not recognise their relationship.

Tom O'Connor spoke about his experiences of discrimination in the workplace. He described how the discrimination and harassment that he experienced affected his partner's career options as he was unable to support his partner when he wanted to study.

The consultation invited comments on the potential benefit of federal laws protecting people from discrimination and harassment. Overwhelmingly, participants argued that introducing such protections would result in significant benefits for the Australian community as a whole. A small number of participants argued that there would be no benefit from these protections.

A community guide to the National Inquiry into Discrimination against People in Same-Sex Relationships: Financial and Work-Related Entitlements and Benefits

Protecting the best interests of a child is one of the most important principles of international law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in particular. This chapter focuses on whether federal law currently protects the best interests of a child being raised by lesbian or gay parents.

When people enter an aged care facility they usually have to pay certain daily fees and other payments to fund their care and residence. The Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth) (the Aged Care Act) sets out how those fees and payments should be calculated in both public and private aged care facilities.

Social security is an income support system that acts as a safety-net for people who, for some reason, are unable to financially support themselves. Entitlements to social security are largely governed by the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth) (Social Security Act) and the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 (Cth) (Family Assistance Act). The payments are usually administered by Centrelink.

In 2006, the Commission conducted a National Inquiry into discrimination against people in same-sex relationships regarding access to financial and work-related entitlements and benefits. The inquiry is known as the Same-Sex: Same Entitlements Inquiry (the Inquiry).

This chapter focuses on discrimination against same-sex couples and their families in the context of access to the Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Safety Nets.

Same-Sex: Same Entitlements Report back to Contents Glossary Term Explanation adoptive parent A person who has legally adopted a child. ART assisted reproductive technology. ART child A child conceived through ART. assisted reproductive technology Conception other than through intercourse, including in vitro fertilisation, clinically-assisted donor insemination and self-insemination. birth…

Superannuation is one of the main ways of saving for retirement. It is designed to provide financial security for individuals and their families in retirement; or when a person dies unexpectedly.

The following 58 legal instruments must be amended to eliminate discrimination against same-sex couples and their children in the area of financial and work-related entitlements.

The Australian Human Rights Commission launched its consultation regarding protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, sex and/or gender identity on 1 October 2010.

We are pleased to present Same-Sex: Same Entitlements, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s report of the National Inquiry into Discrimination Against People in Same-Sex Relationships: Financial and Work-Related Entitlements and Benefits.