Welcomed, The Legal Move To Make Two Into One

The Age

Thursday May 1, 2008

Dewi Cooke, Social Affairs Reporter

THEY sport all the hallmarks of a committed relationship: there's the mortgage, the shared bank accounts and now, a baby on the way.

But for the 10 years that Kate Hannah, 28, and her partner, Anna Degotardi, 31, have been together, the law has been stacked against them.

"There's that old stereotype of lesbians moving in on the second date, which is pretty much what happened," Ms Hannah said. "(But) things like having to ask the hospital whether it would be OK for Anna to be in the birthing suite, I find that uncomfortable. That should just be accepted."

Under coming changes to Victorian law, Ms Degotardi will eventually be recognised as a parent of Ms Hannah's child. Under changes to be introduced by Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland, about 100 further elements of discrimination against same-sex couples will be removed.

While the couple said they had not felt discriminated against socially, they saw the changes as an important legal step.

"In everyday life most people - in metropolitan Melbourne - don't suffer discrimination because society is largely very accepting, and to have the laws not reflect that is a problem," Ms Degotardi said.

"That is going to, rightfully, change."

Among the changes affecting them will be increased access to each other's superannuation contributions, qualification for the couples rate of the Medicare safety net and equal access to workers' compensation.

It could also mean that they will be means-tested for any family assistance payments. Previously, Ms Hannah would have been considered a single parent.

It's a loss both are willing to bear. "I think it's more important to not be discriminated against than to have the pension," Ms Hannah said.

© 2008 The Age

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