Relationships Register a landmark success

Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls said the successful passage of the Relationships Bill 2007 allowed couples the dignity and respect of formal recognition of their relationship.

“This is a great day for unmarried heterosexual and same-sex Victorian couples who want the security of formal recognition of their relationship,” Mr Hulls said.

“The register enables couples who want the dignity of formal recognition of their loving relationship to register it, and to have the security of knowing that their decision to commit to a shared life with each other is respected in Victoria.

“The Relationships Register is not gay marriage. It is a practical mechanism to ensure that people who are not married and who are in a committed relationship have easier access to entitlements and I am glad to see common sense has prevailed in this matter.”

Victoria is only the second Australian State to introduce a Relationships Register, after Tasmania.

Unmarried heterosexual and same-sex couples can record their relationship on a register operated by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. The Relationships Register is expected to begin by the end of the year.

Mr Hulls said the Relationships Register built on the Government’s 2001 reforms that amended 57 Acts of Parliament to remove discrimination against same-sex and unmarried couples.

“However, under existing laws the evidence required to prove a relationship – for example, in medical emergencies, for superannuation claims, and for property and life insurance entitlements – was cumbersome and impractical,” Mr Hulls said.

“Now, people who register their relationship will be able to access their entitlements by providing one certificate as conclusive proof instead of having to prove repeatedly that they are in a committed relationship.”

To register a relationship, couples need to be in a domestic relationship, be 18 years of age or over, reside in Victoria, and not be married or in another domestic relationship or relationship already registered in Victoria.

In developing the Victorian Relationships Register, consideration was given to the Tasmanian registration scheme which provides for registration of “significant” and “caring” relationships.

Mr Hulls said it was hoped that caring relationships would be introduced into the Victorian registration scheme later in the year.