Email

NSW in rights push for lesbian mums

Posted July 22, 2008 07:33:00
Updated July 22, 2008 07:57:00

Spearheading the push: John Hatzistergos (AAP: Dean Lewins, file photo)

• Related Story: Rights win for lesbian families

The New South Wales Government wants a federal law amended so children of lesbian couples can seek child support if their parents separate.

State Attorney-General John Hatzistergos says co-mothers are not recognised in Family Court proceedings under the current laws.

Mr Hatzistergos says he will ask the Federal Government to change the Family Law Act to include lesbian parents at a meeting of attorneys-general this week.

"It's important that the laws be amended to ensure that these children are treated in the same way that children of heterosexual relationships are, so that in the event that the parents split up, there is an entitlement for that child to be able to seek child support from co-mothers," he said.

"It's important to recognise that these relationships exist and these children exist, whatever one might think about them.

"And bearing in mind those facts, it's logical to ensure that we have a civilised way of ensuring the economic security of these children."

The State Government last month expanded the rights of NSW children with lesbian parents, clearing the way for children from lesbian couples to inherit money from and receive workers' compensation on behalf of their non-birth parent.

The reforms allowed both mothers to appear on their child's birth certificate.

Tags: community-and-society, family-and-children, gays-and-lesbians, government-and-politics, states-and-territories, law-crime-and-justice, family-law, rights, children, family, australia, nsw

Comments (7)

Comments for this story are closed. No new comments can be added. If you would like to have your say on this issue, you can do so via the Emails section of our Opinion pages.

• Neal:

  22 Jul 2008 8:56:06am

  One of the women will have no biological connection to the child whatsover. The next step down this slippery slope will be to compel step-parents to pay child support.

  Agree (0) Alert moderator

  • klw:

    22 Jul 2008 9:07:09am

    If both names appear on the birth certificate... then I don't have a problem with this. I would be more concerned if they start making the sperm donor pay child support (he is in reality the child's father)

    Agree (0) Alert moderator

  • Ben :

    22 Jul 2008 9:14:35am

    What's wrong with step-parents having to pay child support? Children need support Neal, no matter what their circumstances may be. Children can do very little to affect their circumstances. Children can't pick their parents, or their parents partners. Adults, no matter who they are, need to be responsible for the Children in their lives. It's a tough concept I know, but there it is.

    Agree (0) Alert moderator

  • Susan:

    22 Jul 2008 9:29:34am

    Except the two parties in the relationship (of whatever gender) have made a choice to have a child - and with those rights come obligations. It is right to compel both parents to support the child in the case of a relationship breakdown, the child deserves no less.
    A step parent will only become obligated to maintain a child after a marriage breakdown if they choose to adopt the child.

    Agree (0) Alert moderator

• Bard:

  22 Jul 2008 9:50:13am

  No Neal, the next step will likely be Ex-Mother In Law support.
  
  The NSW Govt has swallowed a fly........and now need to swallow a spider to catch the fly etc etc

  Agree (0) Alert moderator

• Macman:

  22 Jul 2008 9:57:19am

  See what happens when you stuff around with the natural order of things - a god awful mess.
  
  One sperm = one dad.
  One egg = one mum.
  
  Put your sperm in a sperm bank and its used , you should be held accountable - they are your children. Give your eggs to your sister and she no longer wants the child, you should be held accountable - they are your children. It seems to be that some people are so caught up in thier own rights to have a child and to be treated equally in society that they ignore thier responsibilities; especially the ultimate responsibility to thier unborn children.
  
  As a father of seven, I really worry whether people who are very concerned about themselves (and thier rights) are in the right frame of mind for parenthood . . . . .

  Agree (1) Alert moderator

• MO:

  22 Jul 2008 10:02:10am

  Simple. Allowing children into same sex relationships should be banned.
  
  In the natural world, homosexuality is not rewarded by parenthood. Darwinian thought would say that there is a good reason for this.

  Agree (0) Alert moderator