For the first time ever, the Australian Census will count same-sex couples who are married.
Australian Marriage Equality (AME), which lobbied for the new Census rules, has urged same-sex partners to take advantage of the fact they can now indicate they are married on Census night, Tuesday 9 August.
AME has also produced a guide on how couples can completed the Census, which can be found at www.becounted.org.au .
AME spokesperson, Peter Furness said,
“It is an important sign of respect that the Australian Bureau of Statistics will allow same-sex partners to indicate if they are married on the Census.
“It also highlights how nonsensical the Federal Government’s failure to recognise same-sex marriage has become.”
“We urge all same-sex partners who want to indicate they are married to take advantage of the fact that now they can.”
Mr Furness noted that the number of same-sex marriages recorded in this year’s Census will be made public in July next year.
“The ABS will provide the Government with a baseline figure for the number of couples they are discriminating against on July 12th 2012, which is expected to be a key time in the marriage equality debate.”
Many Australian same-sex partners have travelled overseas to marry in countries where it is allowed only to find their legal marriage is not recognised in Australia.
Jacqui Tomlins, who, together with her same-sex partner Sarah Nichols, took a case to the Family Court in 2004 to have their Canadian marriage recognised in Australia, precipitating the Howard Government’s ban on recognising same-sex marriages, welcomed the new Census rules.
“It’s great to know that this year’s census will recognise my Canadian marriage to Sarah for the first time”, Ms Tomlins said.
“After eight years of being happily married it’s nice to see one government department, at least, stepping into line with prevailing community attitudes.”
“The next step is full equality!”
Mr Furness, who also married his same-sex partner in Canada, said,
“After returning from Canada in 2006 to find that our marriage would not even be counted in that year’s census, we decided to fight for our rights. This even included a sit-in at the ABS offices at one stage.”
“Five years later we are excited to be taking part in this year’s census. Our marriage will finally be counted.”
For a guide to how to indicate a same-sex marriage on the Census visit www.becounted.org.au
For further information contact Peter Furness on 0425 848 723 and Jacqui Tomlins on 0427 861 922.