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Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland has confirmed that the federal government will go ahead with a raft of legal reforms for same-sex relationships. One hundred laws have been identified for change, including social security, taxation, health, superannuation and aged care.

The A-G has stressed that the law reforms will not change access to IVF or adoption and will not (surprise!) change the Marriage Act to enable same-sex marriage, and it’s unclear so far whether same-sex couples will gain access to the Family Court for custody and property disputes.

Nonetheless, these are exciting, sweeping and long-awaited reforms which should make gay and lesbian Australians very happy.

There had been some concern that the reforms, which had been promised by the ALP, would be shelved due to budgetary constraints, however the A-G has today confirmed that the needed funding (apparently something like $400 million) will be made available.

The first tranche of legislation is expected to be introduced in June, opening the question of whether the opposition parties will support the reforms. Brendan Nelson seems to be on board, although as usual there’s the ‘we’ll have to see the detail’ qualification. This is an important opportunity for the Liberal Party to show that it has moved on from the narrow-minded focus of the Howard years and step up to support important reforms which will remove wide-ranging discrimination against gay and lesbian Australians.

Mr McClelland will move swiftly to push through the changes, which could cost up to $400 million over four years and are expected to be written into the federal budget on May 13.

The changes will include around 100 laws identified by an audit commissioned after the Government came to power last November.

It built on a 2007 report by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, which identified 58 financial and work-related laws where gay couples faced discrimination.

“The changes will provide for equality of treatment under a wide range of Commonwealth laws between same-sex and opposite-sex de facto couples,” Mr McClelland will say today.

“They will make a practical difference to the everyday lives of a group of our fellow Australians who have suffered discrimination under Commonwealth laws for far too long.”

The changes will apply in tax, superannuation, social security, health, aged care, veterans’ payments, workers’ compensation and employment entitlements. (The Age)