The government of the Australian Capital Territory [official website] on Tuesday introduced revised legislation [press release] that would grant legal recognition to same-sex partnerships but would stop short of authorizing same-sex marriage [JURIST news archive]. ACT Attorney General Simon Corbell [official profile] introduced the Civil Partnerships Bill 2006 [legislative materials] in the district's legislature, saying that the bill was a result of the ACT government's belief that it is unacceptable "to discriminate against one part of society." The partnership bill was introduced after an earlier civil unions law [legislative materials] was overturned by the federal government [JURIST report] because the law's attempt to equate civil unions with marriage was determined to be unacceptable.

Last Updated On 12/12/2006 12:00:00 AM