Abetz slammed for asking ABS to ignore same-sex relationships
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Senator for Western Australia, Louise Pratt, has today slammed Liberal Senator, Eric Abetz, for comments he made regarding same-sex relationships during Senate Estimates last week.
While questioning the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Senator Abetz argued that the ABS should not bother evaluating responses from same-sex couples who have married overseas for the purposes of the census.
I think Senator Abetz’s comments were unnecessary and discriminatory,” said Senator Pratt.
“In their response, representatives of the ABS made it clear that they would simply be interpreting data that has been in the census since 1996 and reporting the information as provided.
“Since 2001, ten countries, including Canada, South Africa and Spain, have legalised same-sex marriage.
“If same-sex couples that are married in these countries return to Australia their relationships are not currently recognised.
“However, that is not a basis for ordering the ABS to ignore people’s relationships as they correctly report them in the census.”
In concluding, Senator Abetz went further, putting the ABS on notice that he was “concerned about the area that [the ABS] is traversing”
“Senator Abetz needs to respect the independence of the ABS,” said Senator Pratt.
“Through its consultations, the ABS has clearly and rightly formed the view that there is public interest in data regarding same-sex couples.
“That is hardly surprising given the fact that same-sex de facto couples have been formally recognised since the last census and the very public debates regarding marriage equality that are currently taking place.
“The census is very important for identifying population trends and I am disappointed in the Liberal Party and Senator Abetz for trying to remove the visibility of same sex couples from the census.
“Senator Abetz should apologise immediately to both the ABS and the GLBTIQ community.”
Media contact: Senator Pratt's office 08 9225 4411
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