Relationships (Civil Partnerships) and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2015

Introduced: 17/9/2015By: Hon Y D'Ath MPStatus: PASSED with amendment
Justice & RightsGovernment & Elections
This summary was generated by AI and has not yet been reviewed by a human.

Plain English Summary

Overview

This bill restores the right for adult couples of any gender in Queensland to hold an official civil partnership ceremony before registering their relationship. It renames the Relationships Act back to the Civil Partnerships Act, sets up a new scheme for registering civil partnership notaries who can conduct ceremonies, and modernises the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry by moving to electronic lodgement of birth and death records.

Who it affects

Same-sex and opposite-sex couples who want an official ceremony gain that option back, while marriage celebrants can register as civil partnership notaries. Hospitals and funeral directors will have to lodge birth and death records electronically.

Key changes

  • Couples of any gender can again hold an official civil partnership ceremony, making a declaration in front of a registered notary and an adult witness
  • The Relationships Act is renamed the Civil Partnerships Act and 'registered relationship' becomes 'civil partnership' across many Queensland laws
  • Existing registered relationships automatically become civil partnerships when the law starts, with no action needed from couples
  • A new scheme sets up registration, an annual fee, a public register and QCAT review for civil partnership notaries, with new offences to protect the integrity of ceremonies
  • Hospitals must lodge birth notices and funeral directors must lodge death registrations electronically, and digitised records get the same legal status as paper originals

Bill Journey

Introduced17 Sept 2015View Hansard
First Reading17 Sept 2015View Hansard
▸Committee17 Sept 2015View Hansard

Referred to Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee

Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committeeportfolio
Committee Findings
Did not recommend passage

The Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee examined the bill, which sought to restore civil partnership ceremony provisions removed by the Newman Government in 2012. The committee was unable to reach a majority decision on whether to recommend the bill be passed, meaning the motion to recommend passage failed. The committee found no issues with fundamental legislative principles. Government members filed a statement of reservation expressing concern that the report excluded evidence from submitters who shared personal stories about how the bill would change their lives.

Key findings (5)
  • The bill sought to restore provisions allowing couples of any gender to hold a civil partnership ceremony before registering their relationship, reversing changes made by the Newman Government in 2012
  • The committee received 29 submissions and held a public hearing, with both strong support and opposition from sections of the public
  • The committee was unable to reach a majority decision on a motion to recommend the bill be passed, and the motion failed under section 91C(7) of the Parliament of Queensland Act 2001
  • The committee found no issues with fundamental legislative principles
  • Supporters argued the bill would support equal rights for LGBTI Queenslanders, while opponents argued civil partnership ceremonies mimicked marriage
Dissenting views: Government members (Mark Furner MP, Jim Madden MP, and Mark Ryan MP) filed a statement of reservation expressing serious concern about the 'unorthodox and exclusionary position' reflected in the report. They argued the report excluded valuable evidence and personal narratives from submitters, disenfranchising Queenslanders who took the time to provide evidence to the Parliament. The government members' statement reproduced the evidence that was excluded from the main report.
AI-generated summary — may contain errors
Committee Report17 Nov 2015

Committee report tabled

Second Reading3 Dec 2015View Hansard
In Detail3 Dec 2015View Hansard
Third Reading3 Dec 2015View Hansard
Royal Assent16 Dec 2015

Referenced Entities

Legislation

Relationships Act 2011Civil Partnerships Act 2011Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2003Corrective Services Act 2006Duties Act 2001Succession Act 1981Acts Interpretation Act 1954Anti-Discrimination Act 1991Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997Civil Proceedings Act 2011Electrical Safety Act 2002First Home Owner Grant Act 2000Governors (Salary and Pensions) Act 2003Guardianship and Administration Act 2000Integrated Resort Development Act 1987Judges (Pensions and Long Leave) Act 1957Land Tax Act 2010Payroll Tax Act 1971Powers of Attorney Act 1998Public Trustee Act 1978Sanctuary Cove Resort Act 1985Status of Children Act 1978Surrogacy Act 2010Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009Criminal Law (Rehabilitation of Offenders) Act 1986Electronic Transactions (Queensland) Act 2001Marriage Act 1961 (Cth)Civil Union Act 2012Domestic Relationships Act 1994Legislative Standards Act 1992

Organisations

Registry of Births, Deaths and MarriagesQueensland Civil and Administrative TribunalAnti-Discrimination Commission QueenslandQueensland Council for Civil LibertiesQueensland Law SocietyBar Association of QueenslandLegal Aid QueenslandLGBTI Legal ServiceAustralian Christian LobbyFamily Voice AustraliaParents and Friends of Lesbians and GaysAustralian Funeral Directors AssociationAustralian Medical Association Queensland

Programs & Schemes

Civil partnership notary registration scheme

Roles & Offices

Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and MarriagesCivil partnership notary

Sectors Affected

Public AdministrationHospitalsCivil Law

Classified using AGIFT/ANZSIC Australian government standards

Source Documents