Australian Civil Unions
Currently in Australia the only states to have civil unions are Tasmania, ACT and Victoria.
State and territory civil unions are beginning to be recognised federally for the purpose of federal entitlements. This is expected to be completed by mid-2009
Civil unions are only recognised and available to residents of the above mentioned states and territories. They are not recognised by other states who do not support this scheme. However countries such as the United Kingdom do recognise civil unions from Australia.
Civil unions are there to provide access to relationship entitlements but are only a small step in the journey to equallity.
Couples enter into a civil union for a range of reasons. Some couples feel the need for legal recognition of their relationship and civil unions are the closest to marriage that this country offers, while others use civil unions to gain access to relationship entitlements however do not wish to marry.
Below is a list of stated that offer civil unions or similar.
Australia's Capital Territory
The Civil Partnership Act 2008 commenced on 19 May 2008.
There are four options for entering an ACT civil union:
1. Deputy Registrar-General witnesses statutory declaration, endorses and registers application (Counter - no bookings required)
2. Deputy Registrar-General endorses and registers application (Statutory declaration witnessed by other qualified person) (Counter -no bookings required)
3. Deputy Registrar-General conducts commitment ceremony, witnesses statutory declaration, endorses and registers application (Pre-ceremony interview required - Booking required)
4. Deputy Registrar-General attends commitment ceremony, but only endorses and registers application (Booking required)
For further information on entering a civil union and the consequences of doing so, see the ACT Department of Justice and Community Safety website:
http://www.ors.act.gov.au/bdm/WebPages/bdm_civil.html
Tasmania
Australia's first civil union scheme was introduced by Tasmania and commenced operation in January 2004.
The Relationships Act 2003 provides for the registration of a Deed of Relationship with the Tasmanian Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Registration of a Deed of Relationship allows immediate access to relationship entitlements as well as a means of proving the existence of a relationship if challenged.
Visit the Tasmanian Department of Justice website for further information:
www.justice.tas.gov.au/bdm/relationships
The website of Relationships Tasmania also has further information: www.relationshipstasmania.org.au
New South Wales
There is no civil union scheme in New South Wales, however, the City of Sydney provides a relationship register available to all residents of the state.
The City of Sydney Relationships Declaration Program recognises both same-sex and opposite-sex relationships. Although registration does not confer legal rights in the way a marriage does, it allows couples to make a written declaration that they are mutually committed to sharing their lives together. Couples have the option of holding a ceremony to celebrate their declaration.
Further further information, visit the City of Sydney website:
www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Community/ServicesAndPrograms/Default.asp
Victoria
The Relationships Act 2008 was passed by the Victorian Parliament in April 2008 and will come into effect on or before 1 December 2008.
Couples will be able to register their relationship with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages and have that relationship recognised under Victorian law.
Two local councils, Melbourne and Yarra, have also introduced relationship registers. Although they do not confer legal rights in the way a marriage does, they allow couples to make a written declaration that they are mutually committed to sharing their lives together. See below for further information.
City of Melbourne:
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=208&pg=3483
Yarra City Council:
www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/council/governance/relationship declaration register.asp
Information thanks to http://www.australianmarriageequality.com
State and territory civil unions are beginning to be recognised federally for the purpose of federal entitlements. This is expected to be completed by mid-2009
Civil unions are only recognised and available to residents of the above mentioned states and territories. They are not recognised by other states who do not support this scheme. However countries such as the United Kingdom do recognise civil unions from Australia.
Civil unions are there to provide access to relationship entitlements but are only a small step in the journey to equallity.
Couples enter into a civil union for a range of reasons. Some couples feel the need for legal recognition of their relationship and civil unions are the closest to marriage that this country offers, while others use civil unions to gain access to relationship entitlements however do not wish to marry.
Below is a list of stated that offer civil unions or similar.
Australia's Capital Territory
The Civil Partnership Act 2008 commenced on 19 May 2008.
There are four options for entering an ACT civil union:
1. Deputy Registrar-General witnesses statutory declaration, endorses and registers application (Counter - no bookings required)
2. Deputy Registrar-General endorses and registers application (Statutory declaration witnessed by other qualified person) (Counter -no bookings required)
3. Deputy Registrar-General conducts commitment ceremony, witnesses statutory declaration, endorses and registers application (Pre-ceremony interview required - Booking required)
4. Deputy Registrar-General attends commitment ceremony, but only endorses and registers application (Booking required)
For further information on entering a civil union and the consequences of doing so, see the ACT Department of Justice and Community Safety website:
http://www.ors.act.gov.au/bdm/WebPages/bdm_civil.html
Tasmania
Australia's first civil union scheme was introduced by Tasmania and commenced operation in January 2004.
The Relationships Act 2003 provides for the registration of a Deed of Relationship with the Tasmanian Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Registration of a Deed of Relationship allows immediate access to relationship entitlements as well as a means of proving the existence of a relationship if challenged.
Visit the Tasmanian Department of Justice website for further information:
www.justice.tas.gov.au/bdm/relationships
The website of Relationships Tasmania also has further information: www.relationshipstasmania.org.au
New South Wales
There is no civil union scheme in New South Wales, however, the City of Sydney provides a relationship register available to all residents of the state.
The City of Sydney Relationships Declaration Program recognises both same-sex and opposite-sex relationships. Although registration does not confer legal rights in the way a marriage does, it allows couples to make a written declaration that they are mutually committed to sharing their lives together. Couples have the option of holding a ceremony to celebrate their declaration.
Further further information, visit the City of Sydney website:
www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Community/ServicesAndPrograms/Default.asp
Victoria
The Relationships Act 2008 was passed by the Victorian Parliament in April 2008 and will come into effect on or before 1 December 2008.
Couples will be able to register their relationship with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages and have that relationship recognised under Victorian law.
Two local councils, Melbourne and Yarra, have also introduced relationship registers. Although they do not confer legal rights in the way a marriage does, they allow couples to make a written declaration that they are mutually committed to sharing their lives together. See below for further information.
City of Melbourne:
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=208&pg=3483
Yarra City Council:
www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/council/governance/relationship declaration register.asp
Information thanks to http://www.australianmarriageequality.com