I rise tonight to address the issue of domestic violence in Australia.

Nine years ago today, the United Nations General Assembly declared that November 25, would be observed as the international day for the elimination of violence against women, with the white ribbon becoming the global symbol of solidarity.

The origins of 25 November as the International Day to eliminate violence against women go back more than four decades, when three Mirabal sisters from the Dominican Republic were killed for their political activism. The sisters became a symbol of the crisis of violence against women in Latin America, with November 25 proclaimed as the date to not only commemorate their lives, but also promote global recognition of gender-based violence.

Moved jointly by Senator Scott Ludlam and Senator Hanson-Young.

That the Senate

(a) notes that:
(i) today marks the ninth anniversary of White Ribbon Day, the symbol of the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women;
(ii) White Ribbon Day marks the start of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, a global event calling on action to end violence against women;

SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS (EQUAL TREATMENT IN COMMONWEALTH LAWS—GENERAL LAW REFORM) BILL 2008
Second Reading

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (11.57 a.m.)—I rise to speak to the final piece of legislation, the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—General Law Reform) Bill 2008, in the government’s reforms that aim to remove same-sex discrimination from federal law. This is indeed a very significant day. The fact that we will finally see an end to the endless discriminatory practices of the past is something that the Australian Greens certainly welcome, but we believe that it is more than overdue. There has been discussion and public debate about the removal of same-sex discrimination in Commonwealth legislation for decades. While the Australian Greens commend the government on following through with their election promise to remove discrimination against same-sex couples from more than 100 pieces of legislation, we must not forget the tireless efforts of all of the individuals and key community groups who have campaigned for decades with little recognition until now.

FAMILY LAW AMENDMENT (DE FACTO FINANCIAL MATTERS AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2008
Second Reading

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (4.31 p.m.)—I rise in support of the Family Law Amendment (De Facto Financial Matters and Other Measures) Bill 2008. As the first stage of the Rudd government’s election promise to remove discrimination against same-sex couples in more than 100 pieces of legislation, the de facto financial bill was referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, along with the Same-Sex Relationship (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—Superannuation) Bill 2008 and the Evidence Amendment Bill 2008.

I rise today to discuss the release of the Productivity Commission’s draft report entitled Paid Parental Leave: Support for Parents with Newborn Children handed down two weeks ago.

I must say that while many of us that have been talking about greater supports for working families for years were sceptical at the Government’s referral of parental supports to yet ‘another’ inquiry, the initial recommendations and proposed model put forward by the Productivity Commission have proved to be quite promising.

Support for “working families” is a platform that the Rudd Labor Government went to the 2007 election with, and while it is all very well for this term to be used as a mantra day in and day out, few will be convinced it means anything unless the Government commits to a paid parental leave scheme as a budget priority, to prove that support for Australian families is at the top of their policy agenda.

The fact that in 2008, Australia is still one of only two OECD countries without a national parental leave scheme is an indictment on both our current Government and Opposition.

I rise in support of the Family Law Amendment De Facto Financial Matters and Other Measures) Bill 2008.

As the first stage of the Rudd’s Government’s election promise to remove discrimination against same-sex couples in more than 100 pieces of legislation, the De Facto Financial Bill was referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee along with the Same-Sex Relationship (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws-Superannuation) Bill 2008 and the Evidence Amendment Bill 2008.

The Family Law Amendment (De Facto Financial Matters and Other Measures) Bill 2008 amends the Family Law Act 1975 to provide for opposite-sex and same-sex de facto couples to access the federal family law courts on property and maintenance matters.

The main benefit of the legal changes essentially allows de facto couples can access the Family Court rather than the more expensive and time consuming state supreme courts. The Bill also amends financial agreements between married couples and superannuation splitting, as well as providing for certificates in relation to family dispute resolution.

I rise to speak to the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws – Superannuation) Bill 2008.

The Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws – Superannuation) Bill 2008, seeks to amend the eliminate discrimination against same-sex couples and the children of same-sex relationships in Commonwealth legislation that provide for reversionary superannuation benefits upon the death of a scheme member, and in related taxation treatment of superannuation benefits.

The Greens support the removal of discrimination in all areas of federal law, and we do not want to see the Same-Sex Relationship (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws-Superannuation) Bill 2008 delayed any further. The public have expressed their desire to have same-sex discrimination removed from law, and we need to see this discrimination removed expediently.

SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS (EQUAL TREATMENT IN COMMONWEALTH LAWS—SUPERANNUATION) BILL 2008
Second Reading

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (7.49 p.m.)—I rise to speak to the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—Superannuation) Bill 2008. This bill seeks to eliminate discrimination against same-sex couples and the children of same-sex relationships in Commonwealth legislation that provides for reversionary superannuation benefits upon the death of a scheme member, and in related taxation treatment of superannuation benefits.

This is the fourth time, in my three short weeks here as a Senator, that I have risen to speak about the plight of the Murray-Darling Basin.

The Greens have been at the forefront of calls for immediate Government action for years.  We have been campaigning for freshwater flows for the lower lakes and the Coorong, and for the Government to prioritise the environmental needs of the lower stretches of the Murray.

During Question Time on Monday, I asked the Minister whether or not a risk assessment had been conducted by the Department on the devastating ecological and community impacts flooding the lower lakes with saltwater, before any government contemplated committing such an environmentally devastating policy move.

I rise to take note of answers in response to questions on the Murray provided by the Minister representing the Minister for Water, Senator Faulkner.

The Lower Lakes and Coorong are in desperate need to find new sources of water as soon as possible, and freshwater flows must be restored by summer if the lower reaches of the Murray have any hope of being rescued.