Legislation to remove same-sex discrimination on government’s agenda

Update 19 December 2008

New legislation to remove same-sex discrimination

New legislation will remove same-sex discrimination from Commonwealth superannuation laws. The amending legislation is effective from 1 January 2009 and allows eligible same-sex partners to receive death benefits upon the death of their partner. Eligible children of same-sex couples will also have access to this benefit.

Members in same-sex relationships do not need to register their relationships with us.

For further information call 1300 000 277

Update 18 June 2008

Legislation to remove same-sex discrimination from Commonwealth laws (including superannuation) has now been sent to the Senate’s legal and constitutional affairs committee for review.

At this stage there has been no indication on when the committee will report back and if the legislation will be retrospective.

We will keep you informed through the news section of the website as we receive further information. 

5 May 2008

The Attorney-General has announced that legislation to remove same-sex discrimination from a wide range of Commonwealth laws, including those relating to superannuation, will be introduced progressively from the Winter Sittings of Parliament (May 2008).

While the Attorney-General has indicated publicly that superannuation is a priority, at this stage we do not know when actual changes to the CSS will take place.

We will keep you informed through the news section of the website as we receive further information. 

More details are available on the Attorney-General’s website.