Government moves to remove legal discrimination against gays and lesbians in Australia have reignited calls for legalisation of same sex marriage. Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland said today legislation would be introduced to modify 100 federal laws that discriminate against homosexual couples, but many of the reforms will not be implemented until 2009.

The Law Council of Australia applauded the move but said the job would not be complete until the Commonwealth Marriage Act was amended to remove legal restrictions preventing the marriage of same sex couples. "As long as the Government remains intent on preserving a special class of state-sanctioned relationship which is closed to same-sex couples, discrimination will persist," Law Council president Ross Ray QC said.

The Government made it clear it would not recognise gay marriage, but will bring equality to gay and lesbian couples in the areas of tax, superannuation sharing, social security and Medicare entitlements.

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