National Conference GLBTI Equality

Saturday, 1 August 2009

Address by Senator Louise Pratt to the 2009 National Conference of the ALP re amendment: 'Achieving Equality for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex People', 1 August 2009.

If there is one theme that has permeated this conference and the policy platform we have been discussing, it is ensuring a fair go for working families.

At no time have we stated or intimated that some working families are excluded from that fair go.

25% of same-sex couples have children.

They too are Australian working families.

We need to offer them a fair go, not to treat them as second class citizens.

We should not be stigmatizing families and I am pleased that we are removing the words that define marriage as between a man and a woman from the platform.

Why should the children of same-sex parents have to grow up knowing that their family is viewed as a second class family?

Shouldn’t those children have the same security as their classmates – safe in the knowledge that their parent’s relationship, their family, are viewed by the law, and the Government, as worthy enough, equal enough to be allowed the same rights and recognitions as everyone else? Anything less than that recognition is plainly ridiculous.

I know it’s ridiculous.  The Australian public knows it’s ridiculous.

In the latest poll published on this subject, 60% - of Australians agreed or strongly agreed that same-sex couples should have access to official relationship recognition, including marriage.

Support for same-sex marriage was even higher amongst families with children - 70% of couples with children support equal marriage rights.

These parents know what kind of Australia they want their children to grow up in - one where all families are given a fair go.

This poll was no aberration. It is the latest in a long line of polls, all showing increasing support for extending relationship equality and recognition to same sex couples.

I know there are a number of delegates – from all sides of the party, both the left and right – who would have liked to speak in favour of relationship recognition and I would like to acknowledge their support.

Whether it happens this year, next year, or in the years after that, same-sex couples will eventually be awarded relationship equality.

Why?

Because Australians reckon it’s a fair thing to do.

Thank you delegates.  

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