Senator Lundy has today called on John Howard and Philip Ruddock to put aside their own prejudices and allow the ACT Legislative Assembly to exercise it’s right to legislate for civil partnerships.
The Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, yesterday said that he would recommend that the Governor-General disallow the ACT Civil Partnerships Bill, even though it hasn’t even been debated in the ACT Legislative Assembly yet.
“I believe that many ACT residents will be very offended by the Howard Government’s decision to disallow this important bill. Not only does the Government’s decision discriminate against same-sex couples, but is also denies the ACT Government’s right to legislate with respect to the ACT”, Senator Lundy said.
“This is a blatant political stunt by a Government that is lagging behind in the polls”.
“The Howard Government is relying on its extreme, conservative ideology and causing division in the community to win votes at the expense of the rights of same-sex couples to have the same rights and privileges as all other couples”.
“I call on Philip Ruddock and the Howard Government to reconsider disallowing this bill and let the ACT Government legislate for same-sex couples as they are entitled to do under the ACT Self-Government Act”, Senator Lundy concluded.
Contact: Rachel Allen 0418 488 295 or 6230 0411
