Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—General Law Reform) Bill 2008

Type: Government
Portfolio: Attorney-General
Originating house: House of Representatives
Status: Act
Parliament no: 42

Summary

Amends 68 Acts to: extend the meaning of ‘de facto partner’, ‘child’ and ‘parent’ to include same-sex relationships; introduce a tracing rule to identify family relationships; and provide for transitional arrangements, including empowering the Governor-General to make regulations of a transitional nature.

Progress

House of Representatives
Introduced and read a first time	04 Sep 2008
Second reading moved	04 Sep 2008
Second reading debate	22 Sep 2008
Second reading debate	23 Sep 2008
Second reading agreed to	24 Sep 2008
Third reading agreed to	24 Sep 2008

Senate
Introduced and read a first time	24 Sep 2008
Second reading moved	24 Sep 2008
Second reading debate	12 Nov 2008
Second reading agreed to	12 Nov 2008
Committee of the Whole debate Amendment details: 2 Government agreed to	12 Nov 2008
Committee of the Whole debate Amendment details: 107 Government agreed to Requests details: 2 Government agreed to	24 Nov 2008

House of Representatives
Consideration of Senate message Details: House made Senate requested amendments	25 Nov 2008

Senate
Third reading agreed to	26 Nov 2008

House of Representatives
Consideration of Senate message Details: House agreed to Senate amendments	27 Nov 2008


Text of bill as passed both Houses	27 Nov 2008
Assent Act no.: 144 Year: 2008	09 Dec 2008

Documents and transcripts

Text of bill

First reading

As passed by both Houses

Explanatory memoranda

Explanatory memorandum

Supplementary explanatory memorandum

Transcript of speeches

Proposed amendments

Senate

Australian Greens [sheet 5614]
HANSON-YOUNG, Sen Sarah

Australian Greens [sheet 5634]
HANSON-YOUNG, Sen Sarah

Government [sheet QH401]

Schedules of amendments

Schedule of the amendments made by the Senate

Schedules of the requests by the Senate for amendments and the amendments made by the Senate

Notes

Referred to Committee (04/09/2008): Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Comittee
Committee report (14/10/2008)
An electronic version of this Act is available on the Federal Register of Legislation (www.legislation.gov.au)

Helpful information

Text of bill

First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament
Third reading: Prepared if the bill is amended by the house in which it was introduced. This version of the bill is then considered by the second house.
As passed by both houses: Final text of bill agreed to by both the House of Representatives and the Senate which is presented to the Governor-General for assent.

Explanatory memoranda

Explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and provides an explanation of the content of the introduced version (first reading) of the bill.
Supplementary explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains amendments proposed by the government to the bill.
Revised explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains the amended version (third reading) of the bill. It supersedes the explanatory memorandum.

Proposed amendments

Circulated by members and senators when they propose to make changes to the bill. For details about the outcome of proposed amendments please refer to either the Votes and Proceedings (House of Representatives) or the Journals (Senate).

Schedules of amendments

Schedules of amendments list amendments agreed to by the second house are communicated to the first house for consideration. Subsequent action by either house may also be included in a schedule.

Senate

House of Representatives

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