History of Same-Sex Laws

By julia_alvarado

  • Property (Relationships) Act 1984 (NSW)

    Changed the De facto (Relationships) Act 1984 to include same-sex couples as 'de factos'.

  • Miscellaneous Acts Amendment (Relationships) Act 2002 (NSW)

    An Act which amended 20 NSW laws to include same-sex couples as de facto relationships such as being exempt from giving evidence against a spouse in court.

  • Same-Sex (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws - General Law Reform) Act 2008 (Cth)

    Significant legislation which amended 84 Commonwealth Acts to provide greater equality for same-sex couples based on recommendations in the Australian Human Rights Commissions report: "Same-Sex:Same Entitlements". Changed laws regarding tax, superannuation, medicare, veteran's affairs and so on.

  • Family Law Amendment (De Facto Financial Matters and Other Measures) Act 2008 (Cth)

    Allowed for de factos (and thus same-sex couples) to have property disputes resolved in the Family Court at the same time as disputes regarding children rather than in NSW courts.

  • Changes to Status of Children Act 1996 (NSW)

    This Act was amended to allow both lesbian partners to be placed on the birth certificate of a child.

  • Adoption Act 2000 (NSW)

    Adoption Act in NSW was changed to allow BOTH couples in a same-sex relationship to adopt a child (previously it was only 1)