LGBT rights in South Australia

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LGBT rights in South Australia
South Australia (Australia)
Same-sex sexual activity legal? Legal since 1975
Discrimination protections Yes (both state and federal law)
Family rights
Recognition of
relationships		 Domestic Partnership Agreement since 2007
Adoption No

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the Australian state of South Australia have some of the same rights as heterosexual people.

Same-sex couples can enter into Domestic Partnerships (akin to civil unions) though they lack legal equity with respect to adoption, surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology rights. South Australia is one of only two states in Australia (the other being Queensland) not to have abolished the gay panic defence within common law,[1] despite it being the first Australian state to decriminalise homosexual sex in 1972.

In September 2015 a report released by the South Australian Law Reform Institute identified over 140 South Australian Acts and Regulations which discriminate (or potentially discriminate) on the grounds of sexual orientation, sex, gender identity and Intersex status, and issued a number of sweeping recommendations to amend such laws.[2]

Laws regarding homosexuality

In 1972, the Dunstan Labor government introduced a consenting adults in private defence in South Australia. This defence was later introduced as a bill by Murray Hill, father of former Defence Minister Robert Hill.

South Australia became the first state or territory to decriminalise sexual conduct between males and provide and equal age of consent for homosexual and heterosexual sex (which is 17 years of age), with the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Amendment Act 1975 achieving exactly these reforms.[3]

Historical conviction expungement

South Australia was the first jurisdiction within Australia to develop a scheme which provides for historical private consensual gay male sexual activity criminal convictions to be expunged under the Spent Convictions (Decriminalised Offences) Amendment Act 2013, which allows those with these historical convictions to apply to have them not appear on their record after a number of crime-free years. Victoria and New South Wales are the only other jurisdictions within Australia that also has similar expungement legislation. The New South Wales expungement law became effective in 2014. The Victorian expungement law became effective in 2015.[4][5] The Australian Capital Territory passed a similar bill in October 2015. This bill allows those convicted of historical private consensual adult gay male same-sex sexual activity, to apply for it to be expunged.[6]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Creation of Domestic Partnerships

The Statutes Amendment (Domestic Partners) Act 2006 (Number 43), which took effect 1 June 2007, amended 97 Acts, dispensing with the term "de facto" and categorising couples as "domestic partners". This meant same-sex couples and any two people who live together are now covered by the same laws. Same-sex couples may make a written agreement called a Domestic Partnership Agreement about their living arrangements. This may be prepared at any time and is legal from the time it is made, but must meet other requirements, such as joint commitments, before being recognised as domestic partners. Until the bill’s passage South Australia was the only state or territory to not recognise same-sex couples in legislation.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Under state law, equal superannuation entitlements for same-sex couples were provided for with the Statutes Amendment (Equal Superannuation Entitlements for Same Sex Couples) Act 2003 (number 13).[14] Such rights were eventually federalised in 2009.[15][16]

Further legislation in 2011 - the Statutes Amendment (De Facto Relationships) Act 2011 - recognised same sex couples in asset forfeiture, property and stamp duty applications.[17]

Attempts at legalising civil unions

South Australia became the first state to consider allowing civil unions for same-sex couples when MP Mark Brindal proposed the Civil Unions Bill 2004 in October 2004. Brindal said, "Same sex attracted people make invaluable contributions to society, and society can no longer afford the hypocrisy to deny them the right to formalise their relationships."[18][19]

In October 2012, independent MP Bob Such introduced a bill to the SA Legislative Assembly called the Civil Partnership Bill 2012.[20][21][22][23][verification needed][24][25] It failed to pass either house.

Adoption and parenting rights

Same-sex adoption

South Australia is one of three jurisdictions within Australia that ban the adoption of children by same-sex couples (the others being Queensland and the Northern Territory). The Adoption Act 1988 [26] allows only heterosexual couples (both married and de facto) to adopt children (similar to Queensland and Northern Territory). Single individuals are also banned from adoption in South Australia, making it the only place in Australia that does this. Currently only Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia allow same sex couples to adopt children.

In July 2014, the Government of South Australia announced the formation of a committee to review its adoption laws, which will include looking at whether same-sex couples and singles will be able to adopt. Despite submissions to the inquiry closing in May, as of December 2015 the review committee is yet to release any findings.[27]

Assisted reproductive technology

South Australia is the only jurisdiction in Australia to ban fertile single women and lesbians from accessing IVF treatment. South Australia requires single women and lesbians to be "medically infertile" in order to receive IVF treatment under a 1996 Supreme Court of South Australia ruling.[28][29]

The Reproductive Technology (Clinical Practices) Act 1988 [30] states that artificial fertilisation procedures are exclusively for the benefit of heterosexual couples (both de facto and married) who appear to be infertile. In 1996 the Supreme Court of South Australia found that the restriction of access to treatment on the basis of marital status contravened the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cwth). Infertile lesbian women who are single or in a relationship currently have access to IVF treatment, similar to Western Australia. On 4 May 2012 at 11pm the Assisted Reproductive Treatment (Equality of Access) Amendment Bill 2012[31] passed the Legislative Council (upper House) on a vote of 12–9. The bill subsequently failed in the lower house, meaning that fertile female same-sex couples remain ineligible for assisted reproductive technology treatments in South Australia.

Surrogacy

South Australia is one of only two jurisdictions in Australia (the other being Western Australia) to ban altruistic surrogacy for singles and same-sex couples under the Statutes Amendment (Surrogacy) Act 2009.[32]

The Family Relationships Act 1975 [33] made all surrogacy arrangements illegal. The Statutes Amendment (Surrogacy) Act 2009[34] revised the Family Relationships Act by legalising altruistic surrogacy (but not commercial surrogacy) only for heterosexual couples (both married and de facto). It also presumes that the woman who gives birth to a child is the legal mother of the child, regardless of genetics. It was passed by the Parliament of South Australia on 17 November 2009.[35] An amendment introduced by Labor MP Ian Hunter which would have allowed anyone in a same sex relationship access to gestational surrogacy was rejected when the law was drafted in 2008.[36]

Recognition of lesbian parents in existing relationships

In 2010 the Family Relationships (Parentage) Amendment Act 2010[37] was a proposed law recognising co-mothers in same sex relationships and their children. It was introduced by Greens member Tammy Jennings just after the recent state election to the Legislative Council (upper house) and passed via a conscience vote of 14-5 on 14 November 2010. It subsequently passed in the Legislative Assembly (lower house), also via a conscience vote, by 24-15 on 10 June 2011.[38][39] The bill was assented (No 22 of 2011)[40] and became law on 23 June 2011, commenced on 15 December 2011.[41][42] In 2015, the Family Relationships (Parentage Presumptions) Amendment Bill 2015[43] abolishes the 3-year relationship requirement for parentage, passed the upper house, awaiting a vote in the lower house.[44][45]

Discrimination protections

South Australia's Equal Opportunity Act 1984[46] bans unfair treatment of citizens due to sexuality, amongst a host of other aspects of public life.[47] South Australia introduced new laws in 2009 to remove or reduce, former exceptions to the law with respect to sexuality discrimination.[48] The Act also protects transgender and intersex South Australians, classifying such protections under a 'Chosen Gender' section.[49]

Since 1988, the Equal Opportunity Act also expressly says that it is not discrimination in refusing to providing ART or IVF services for certain women under section 5 which quotes -

(a) A reference in this Act or in the repealed Sex Discrimination Act 1975 to the provision of a service does not include, and will be taken never to have included, the carrying out of either of the following fertilisation procedures: (a) artificial insemination; or (b) the procedure of fertilising an ovum outside the body and transferring the fertilised ovum into the uterus.

Federal law also protects LGBT and Intersex people in South Australia in the form of the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Act 2013.[50]

Gay panic defence

South Australia and Queensland are the only states in Australia to maintain the gay panic defence within common law. Repeated attempts to abolish the law have proved to be unsuccessful.[51][52]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal Yes (since 1975 for males; always for females)
Equal age of consent Yes
Anti-discrimination state laws for sexual orientation Yes
Anti-discrimination state laws for gender identity or expression Yes
Hate crime laws include sexual orientation No
Hate crime laws include gender identity or expression No
Gay sex criminal records expunged Yes
Gay panic defence abolished No
Recognition in state law of same-sex couples as domestic partners Yes (domestic partnership agreement)
Step adoption by same-sex couples No (under review)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples No (under review)
Access to IVF for lesbians and surrogacy for gay male couples No (under review)
Same-sex marriages No (federal jurisdiction)
MSMs allowed to donate blood No (one year deferral - Australia-wide)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Renewed calls to remove gay lain defence in SA (Star Observer - February 2014)
  2. ↑ See page 11 of the report
  3. ↑ Gay law reform in Australian States and Territories: South Australia
  4. ↑ [1]
  5. ↑ [2]
  6. ↑ [3]
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Same Sex Couples & Single Women (South Australian Law)
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ The ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TREATMENT (EQUALITY OF ACCESS) AMENDMENT BILL 2012 - austill law website
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/B/CURRENT/FAMILY%20RELATIONSHIPS%20(PARENTAGE)%20AMENDMENT%20BILL%202010_HON%20TAMMY%20JENNINGS%20MLC.aspx
  38. ↑ Click here for details
  39. ↑ Click here again for details
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ [4]
  44. ↑ [5]
  45. ↑ [6]
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Types of discrimination: SA Equal Opportunity Commission
  48. ↑ Equal Opportunity Act 1984 details: SA Equal Opportunity Commission
  49. ↑ SA Equal Opportunity Commission: Chosen Gender
  50. ↑ Australian Human Rights Commission
  51. ↑ SA gay panic law info
  52. ↑ Renewed calls to remove gay lain defence in SA (Star Observer - February 2014)

External links

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