An Open Letter to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Can I just say, my partner rocks. She wrote the following letter, not me. I just asked if I could post it here. This issue needs to get more attention. The action the Government has taken here is without precedent, and needs to be challenged for it's continued discriminatory treatment of same-sex partners.
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Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
As a partnered lesbian, I am delighted to see that the Rudd government has taken steps towards legally recognizing my relationship.
However, since my partner and I are both on the Disability Support Pension, I am also aggrieved at the lack of the usual 'grandfather' clause which would have protected our financial future.
As detailed by the Sydney Morning Herald - http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/gay-couples-to-face-new-era-of-financial-discrimination/2008/12/05/1228257316542.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 - this lack will mean double discrimination for those homosexual couples who throughout their working lives received none of the financial benefits of being recognized as a couple, but who are now dependent on Centrelink benefits and will suffer a financial penalty as they are forced to declare their relationships. Many gay and lesbian couples have made long-term financial and career plans based on the existing laws which didn't recognise their relationships and, particularly in today's economic crisis, will face extreme financial hardship as a result of legal changes which should be a cause for celebration.
As mentioned in the Herald article, "every significant change to social security laws passed in the last 15 years has included a 'grandfather' clause to minimise harsh consequences for those already in the system." The failure to include such a clause with this change just perpetuates the very discrimination against homosexual people that the Rudd government is trying to redress.
I therefore plead with you to introduce a grandfather clause into these Social Security Act changes to protect the financial futures of affected couples.
Yours in hope for a "fair go"
Etc.