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2007 ISSUES:

Relationship Register Vote - Clarification/Correction

In our analysis of the Victorian Legislative Council vote on the Relationships Bill to establish a relationships register, we made one error.

Unfortunately the record of the vote shown in the 'Proof' or draft Hansard was incorrect.

In analysing the final vote, I took the third reading vote on the Relationships Bill from the online Hansard, the official record of the debate. Unfortunately, in order to get the record out promptly it was taken from the 'Proof' or Draft version of Hansard.

That record of the vote showed National Party MP Damian Drum as voting FOR the Bill.

That was incorrect.

The record of the vote has now been corrected by the editors checking it with the minutes of the Legislative Council.
* Mr Drum's name has been removed from the 'Ayes'.
* Mr Robert Smith, of the ALP, whose name did not appear, has been added to the 'Ayes'.
* Mr Drum and Jaala Pulford did not vote in the third reading vote.

The final edited version of Hansard is at http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/downloadhansard/pdf/Council/Feb-Jun%202008/Council%20Extract%208%20April%202008%20from%20Book%204.pdf

Mr Drum voted against the Bill in the second reading on 8 April 2008.

Read His speech opposing the Bill here (PDF)

I have spoken to Damian and apologised for any angst that our email [or the Hansard record] may have caused him.

During the debate for the amendments on 10 April, he was present for the vote on the first two amendments. He explained to me that he was then absent for a ministerial meeting. The third amendment was not debated and when the final third reading vote was taken he was not present in the Chamber.

So we thank Damian for not supporting the Relationship Bill.
Damian is a Member for the Northern Victoria Region - with an office in Bendigo. His website is http://damiandrum.com.au/default.asp

If Damian is your Member and you wrote to him following our email - or if you haven't thanked him for opposing the Bill, his email is damian.drum@parliament.vic.gov.au

(Mrs) Jenny Stokes

Research Director
SALT SHAKERS
PO Box 6049, Wantirna, Victoria, 3152
Ph (03) 9800 2855
Mobile: 0413 084 146
Email: jenny@saltshakers.org.au
Web: www.saltshakers.org.au

Relationships Register Bill passed by Victoria's Legislative Council

Thank you to everyone who contacted their MPs in both Houses about this Bill.

We are disappointed that the 'Relationships Bill' has now been passed by Victoria's Parliament.

The debate about amendments and the third reading vote were held yesterday - on Thursday 10 April.

None of the amendments proposed by the Greens were passed.

The Bill was passed by 29 votes to 9.

The Relationships Register is expected to commence on 1 December 2008.

The actual Bill is posted on the parliament website

Congratulations to the NINE Members of the Legislative Council who voted AGAINST the Relationships Bill:

If they are one of your members, or if you wrote to them, please write and THANK them for voting against the Relationships Bill.

	Phil Davis (Eastern Victoria - Liberal): Philip.Davis@parliament.vice.go.au
	Mr Bernie Finn (Western Metropolitan, Liberal): Bernie.fin@parliament.vice.gov.au
	Mr Peter Hall (Eastern Victoria, Nationals): peter.hall@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Mr Peter Kavanagh (Western Victoria, DLP): peter.kavanagh@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Mr David Koch (Western Victoria, Liberal): david.koch@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Mrs Jan Kronberg (Eastern Metropolitan, Liberal): jan.kronberg@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Mrs Inga Peulich (South Eastern Metropolitan, Liberal): inga.peulich@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Mr Gordon Rich-Phillips (South Eastern Metropolitan, Liberal): gordon.rich-phillips@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Mr John Vogels (Western Victoria, Liberal) john.vogels@parliament.vic.gov.au

Two Labor Members were absent for the third reading vote:

Robert Smith, South Eastern Metropolitan - robert.smith@parliament.vic.gov.au

Jaala Pulford, Western Victoria. - jaala.pulford@parliament.vic.gov.au

Ms Pulford was absent for both the second and third reading votes - Mr Smith voted for the Bill at the second reading.

Summary of vote:

Of the 15 Liberals – 8 voted FOR the Bill and 7 voted against.

Nationals: 1 voted for the Bill (Damian Drum) and one voted against (Peter Hall).
Labor: Of the 19 MLCs, 17 voted for the Bill and two were absent from the vote.
Greens: ALL three Members voted for the Bill.
DLP: Peter Kavanagh voted against the Bill.

Details of the debate and vote:

Debate on amendments and the final Third Reading Vote. The Greens put up two amendments.

Hansard - debate and votes: Legislative Council Hansard - 10 April 2008.

Committee stage - amendments and final vote: pages 37 - 43 and pages 52 - 56.

First amendment - Residency Requirement

The proposed Bill required that BOTH partners registering the relationship reside in Victoria. The amendment from the Greens was that only one of them had to live in Victoria.

The amendment was lost - 28-9 (see Page 43)

Second Amendment - Ceremonies

The debate was adjourned and began again later - Page 52 on Hansard.

The second amendment moved by the Greens was to clause 10 and related to ceremonies:

"Clause 10, after line 32 insert—

“(4) The Registrar may conduct a ceremony in connection with the registration of a registrable relationship under this section.”

The government representative, Mr Justin Madden responded...

Hon. J. M. MADDEN (Minister for Planning) — In that sense we are not trying to. As I mentioned before, there is nothing to stop couples from holding a public event or a celebration or a ceremony. They have that choice. We are not undermining that choice, so we do not believe there is a need to incorporate it in the legislation.

ONLY three Members voted for this amendment on 'ceremonies' - the three Greens: Mr Greg Barber, Ms Sue Pennicuik and Ms Colleen Hartland.

Final Vote

The Bill was read a third time and a final vote was taken. The vote was 29 to 9 in favour of the Bill.
There are 40 Members.

Media Reports: The homosexual press, the ABC and Warrnambool!

Govt rejects Greens changes to gay relationships bill
ABC Online, Australia - Apr 9, 2008
The Victorian Government says a bill allowing same-sex and unmarried couples to register their relationships will be passed today. ...

Vic relationships registry soon to be law
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/10/2212789.htm

Melbourne Community Voice, Australia - Apr 8, 2008

Victoria ’s Upper House, the Legislative Council, last night voted 29-10 in favour of the Relationships Bill 2007, which will allow same-sex and de facto ...

NO-GAY ZONE

Warrnambool Standard, by SHANE FOWLES, 10 April 2008.
http://warrnambool.yourguide.com.au/articles/1220514.html?src=topstories

(Mrs) Jenny Stokes

Research Director
SALT SHAKERS
PO Box 6049, Wantirna, Victoria, 3152
Ph (03) 9800 2855
Mobile: 0413 084 146

Email: jenny@saltshakers.org.au

Web: www.saltshakers.org.au

Link-Zone does not necessarily endorse the views held by contributors, or by authors of linked websites. This material is provided for your information to assist you in forming your own opinion. It is Link-Zone's hope that you are able to find quality resources that will help you in your research of current issues.

�Link-Zone, 2000 - 2008

Relationship Register Vote - Clarification/Correction

Relationships Register Bill passed by Victoria's Legislative Council

The Bill was passed by 29 votes to 9.

The Relationships Register is expected to commence on 1 December 2008. The actual Bill is posted on the parliament website

Congratulations to the NINE Members of the Legislative Council who voted AGAINST the Relationships Bill:

Summary of vote:

Details of the debate and vote: Debate on amendments and the final Third Reading Vote. The Greens put up two amendments. Hansard - debate and votes: Legislative Council Hansard - 10 April 2008. Committee stage - amendments and final vote: pages 37 - 43 and pages 52 - 56.

First amendment - Residency Requirement

The proposed Bill required that BOTH partners registering the relationship reside in Victoria. The amendment from the Greens was that only one of them had to live in Victoria. The amendment was lost - 28-9 (see Page 43)

Second Amendment - Ceremonies

Final Vote

The Relationships Register is expected to commence on 1 December 2008.

The actual Bill is posted on the parliament website

Details of the debate and vote:

Debate on amendments and the final Third Reading Vote. The Greens put up two amendments.

Hansard - debate and votes: Legislative Council Hansard - 10 April 2008.

Committee stage - amendments and final vote: pages 37 - 43 and pages 52 - 56.

The proposed Bill required that BOTH partners registering the relationship reside in Victoria. The amendment from the Greens was that only one of them had to live in Victoria.

The amendment was lost - 28-9 (see Page 43)