As the United Kingdom's new Civil Partnership Act took effect last month, Australian GLBT activists demanded that their government create a national civil-union scheme for straight and gay relationships.
'Certification is important when same-sex or heterosexual de facto couples are required to prove their relationship status, in areas as diverse as child custody, ... death benefits, passport applications or during a medical emergency,' said Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne.
However, a day later, Prime Minister John Howard said no way.
'I think marriage is for men and women. That's why we amended the Marriage Act [ to ban same-sex marriage ] ,' Howard said. 'That's the common understanding of marriage in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and I would be opposed to the recognition of civil unions.'
At present, the state of Tasmania offers partnership registration and the Australian Capital Territory has announced plans to follow suit.
Same-sex couples have access to full marriage in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain and Massachusetts. South Africa's highest court recently legalized same-sex marriage but gave legislators one year to make the necessary legal adjustments.
Partnership or civil-union laws that grant registered same-sex couples some, most or all rights and obligations of marriage are in force in Andorra, the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. states of California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey and Vermont.