THE Coalition has relented to pressure and will grant to gay and lesbian couples the same rights on Commonwealth public sector superannuation as heterosexual couples.
Malcolm Turnbull, who is under considerable political pressure from the sizeable gay community in his seat of Wentworth, flagged the changes in a speech to a gay and lesbian business leaders function last night. They will be confirmed today.
While the Coalition will not grant gay couples de facto status, or adopt any of the other 58 recommendations outlined in a human rights report in June, it will allow, if re-elected, interdependent gay couples to share each other’s public pensions and super benefits - as heterosexual couples do.
It will apply across the Commonwealth public service, ranging from judges, politicians to public servants and the military.
Labor has already promised to institute all 58 changes, saying it was unfair to discriminate financially against people on the basis of them being gay.
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