Marriage equality advocates are angry that the Australian Government is blocking the legal overseas same-sex marriage of the sister of the former Tasmanian Premier, David Bartlett.
Mr Bartlett’s sister, Angela Borella, was set to marry her Portuguese partner in Lisbon next year, but her plans have been thrown into disarray because the Australian Government refuses to provide her with the certificate required by the Portuguese authorities to show she is not already married in Australia.
Australian Marriage Equality Campaign Director, Rodney Croome, said Ms Borella is one of many gay and lesbian Australians who have been disadvantaged because of the Federal Government’s mean-spirited policy.
“Not content with stopping same-sex couples marrying in Australia, the Federal Government is trying to stop us marrying overseas as well”, Mr Croome said.
“The Australian Government says it can’t issue the certificate in question to same-sex couples because same-sex marriages aren’t recognised here, but these certificates aren’t about what Australian marriage law says, they’re about whether an Australian is free to marry under foreign marriage laws.”
“When the ALP National Conference considers marriage equality next week, I hope delegates take notice of the pain and disadvantage caused by the current denial of equality to people like Angela and support a new policy in favour of marriage equality.”
“But if Government policy doesn’t change, we will commence legal proceedings against the Government on the basis that it misusing these certificates for a purpose they were never meant for.”
As a matter of course the Australian Government issues Certificates of No-Impediment to Marriage (CNI) to heterosexual Australians marrying overseas, but has refused such certificates to same-sex partners since at least 2005.
In an opinion article to be published today on The Punch website, Ms Borella wrote,
“My partner and I were full of excitement about the future ahead and fulfilling our plan. But my feelings immediately dissolved in to sadness, embarrassment and shame when I found I couldn’t have a CNI. I had never felt more de-valued as an Australian citizen.”
“The failure of the Australian Government to issue us a CNI impedes greatly on our relationship here. For example, I am unable to access certain entitlements like health care unless I am married. I’m also concerned about my partner. What about her right to enter a marriage with the woman she loves? After all, we are living in Portugal, not Australia.”
Ms Borella’s brother, former Tasmanian Premier, David Bartlett, told the Age newspaper her predicament is “upsetting” and called on the Government to support marriage equality.
“It is now time for the Labor Party to show progress and real leadership on this issue. My sister has found true love and for her not to be able to express that true love in another country that agrees with same-sex marriage because of the Australian context is very upsetting for everyone,” he said.
For the Age’s article on this issue, click here.
For Ms Borella’s opinion article, click here.
For a fact sheet on the denial of CNIs to same-sex partners, click here.
Ms Borella can be contacted in Portugal through Mr Croome.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668 .