Australia

The 2004 Marriage Amendment Act excludes complete equalization with heterosexual unions on a federal level, but efforts to change it are underway. On the 20th May 2008 the Civil Partnerships Act came into effect. However the government's policy on marriage, under Prime Minister Julia Gillard (Labour Party), apparently reflects the "traditional" view held in the community, that marriage should be between a man and a woman. The Government of Australia supports a state-based nationally consistent scheme for the registration of committed adult relationships that are not marriages. Under the Civil Partnership Act couples pension laws as well as visitation rights in hospitals have been amended. A Marriage Equality bill, introduced by the local Green Party to parliament in June 2009, was rejected in November 2009. The Greens thereupon announced a second attempt in the following legislative period. A third of Australia's eight states and territories have varying laws regarding same-sex couples, but the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) law is considered the strongest. Tasmania is the first Australian federal state to have decided in favour of recognizing overseas same-sex marriages. Australia is a federation of six states and two territories. For exact details please refer to the corresponding heading for each state or territory. Australia, an island continent the size of Europe, offers an incredibly diverse gay travel experience: wonderful beaches, amazing rainforests, modern cities, ski areas in winter and the Red Centre with open space as far as the eye can see and wonderful never-ending blue skies. You will find the Australians friendly and hospitable, always pleased to show you their country.