Superdiscriminannuation
Though we’ve made much progress in rights for same sex couples in Australia, especially here in New South Wales, one big area where discrimination still occurs is superannuation. Even if you put your same sex partner down as your beneficiary, it’s up to the super company’s discretion whether they actually get paid or not, and there are many other areas, particularly pensions, where the law is spectacularly biased. The Australian Democrats are sick of this and have henceforth decided to block all super legislation that does not include equality for same sex couples. Looks like the first fallout from this decision is about to occur as the Howard Government believes that such a provision would ‘undermine the institution of marriage’. Read all about it here. Personally I can’t understand how governments can be so disdainful of human rights and our relationships.
