Advocacy

Protecting Same-Sex Pensioners

Tue, 05/05/2009 - 9:25am — admin

ACON, along with a coalition of other community and welfare organisations, lobbied the federal government, and worked with Centrelink to ease the impact of the changes to Centrelink. This page provides a historical reference of the activities that took place and relevant correspondence received.

The measure below were part of a package offered by the Commonwealth following lobbying from a broad coalition of more than 30 social welfare agencies and community health organisations led by ACON, the leading health promotion agency for NSW’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community and the Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE).

Highlights of the package included:

a review of Centrelink policies of who is a member of a couple, including consultation with LGBT community representatives on the draft changes
a more compassionate approach to dealing with debts that may result from the Centrelink law reform
$350K towards a national education campaign by the National LGBT Health Alliance; informing the community about changes to 85 areas of law, including the Centrelink reforms
$100K provided to the Welfare Rights Network for specific advocacy on behalf of same-sex couples affected by Centrelink changes

Click here for full details of the Government package.

Members of the community who need help or information about Centrelink payments or practice should call the Welfare Rights Centre on 1800 226 028 or (02) 9211 5300.

Correspondence with Government

**UPDATED** 30 November 2009 - the Hon. Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs responded to the letter from ACON and the Australian Coalition for Equality's June 2009 letter.

Download: Letter from the Hon. Jenny Macklin MP (PDF)

18 June 2009 - ACON and the Australian Coalition of Equality, on behalf of the coalition of organisations, wrote a letter in response to the government seeking clarification about a number of important issues.

Download: Letter to the Hon. Jenny Macklin MP (PDF)

12 May 2009 - the Hon. Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, and Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig, Minister for Human Services, wrote to the Coalition about the implementation of the government’s same-sex law reforms.

Download: Letter from the Hon. Jenny Macklin MP (PDF)

March 2009 – the below paper and executive summary was sent to Federal MP’s and Senators. Representatives of the coalition (including ACON, NSW Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby, Postive Life and the Australian Coalition for Equality) also discussed the paper with representatives of various Ministers and members of parliament.

Download: Same-Sex Law Reform - The Case for Savings Provisions and Other Transitional Arrangements

Download: Executive Summary

Coalition members

National LGBT Health Alliance
Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby
Welfare Rights Centre
Council on the Ageing (NSW)
Older Women's Network
People With Disability Australia
Positive Life NSW
Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations
ACON
Women's Electoral Lobby
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS
Gay and Lesbian Retirement Association Inc.
Australian Coalition for Equality
Victorian AIDS Council
Queensland Association for Healthy Communities
West Australian AIDS Council
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Brisbane
Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby
ALSO Foundation
Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria
Metropolitan Community Church
Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis C Council
AIDS Action Council ACT
Suncare Community Services Inc.
Action Reform Change Queensland
Australian Transgender Support Assocation Queensland Inc.
AIDS Council of South Australia
NSW Council of Social Services (NCOSS)
Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
Lesbian and Gay Solidarity
Matrix Guild of Victoria Inc.

Letters of support

Australian Council of Social Services

Older Women's Network

Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association Of New South Wales

Australian Association of Gerontology

Australian Association of Social Workers

Campaign Media Releases

Web: COMMUNITY COALITION CALLS FOR IMPROVED GUIDELINES ON SAME-SEX LAW REFORM (Media Release)

Web: COMMUNITY COALITION SECURES PENSION PLAN FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES (Media Release)

Web: HEALTH AND WELFARE ORGS SEEK PENSION PROTECTION FOR ELDERLY SAME-SEX COUPLES (Media Release)

More info

Contact: ACON's Advocacy Team

Tel: (02) 9206 2000
Free Call: 1800 063 060
Hearing Impaired: (02) 9283 2088

Email: kprice@acon.org.au

For information regarding your personal situtation and changes to social security payments or benefits:

Contact: The Welfare Rights Network

Tel: 1800 226 028 or (02) 9211 5300.

Web: The Welfare Rights Network

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Comments

Wed, 30/09/2009 - 7:01am — Anonymous

It's a nice start, but more

It's a nice start, but more should be done. I can't hardly fathom how this is even an issue at all. We should be treated the same as any straight couple would. End of story!

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Fri, 08/05/2009 - 4:56pm — Anonymous

Not good enough Kevin

So much for the Rudd government's concern for gays - other old or disabled groups get transitional arrangements, but somehow we're still second-class citizens, and many of us will suffer hardship come July.

Tue, 05/05/2009 - 5:26pm — Anonymous

Gay Veterans

I am a Vietnam Veteran on a Dept. Veterans Affairs (DVA) pension. At this stage, DVA seem to have little understanding on same-sex couples and their rights and responsibilities. When I rang my local DVA office, the spokesman didn't have a clue what I was talking about. There is still lots of groundwork to be done. At least Centrelink seem to have their act together. But not the Dept. Veterans Affairs who pay my (our?) pension.

Fri, 24/04/2009 - 10:55am — Anonymous

Hi, I'm a media student from

Hi, I'm a media student from the University of Sydney and I am currently writing an article related to this topic. I was wondering if there are any elderly couples who wished to be interviewed or just to give their comment on how they feel about these changes. Do you feel that it is a responsibility coupled with a right or do you feel differently? Thank you for anyone who wishes to give their opinion. I can be contacted first by email at yili2943@mail.usyd.edu.au, and then we may arrange a phone or in person interview if necessary.

Wed, 25/02/2009 - 8:44pm — Anonymous

55 Year Qualifications Pension Benefits

These amendments are essential, especially those on DSP payments. The cost of medical, pharmacutical and transport without the healthcard provisions will cause considerable hardship for many Australians. In relation to financial planning the Federal Government needs to recognise that there are 3 critical periods in this process: Prior to 55 years of age ongoing assessment of savings Between 50 - 55 years to review stragagies in relation to benefits and fine tuning of financial arrangements. At 55 years and over - to ensure have confidence with the advice and arrangements that are in place in relation to pensions, payments and benefits.

Tue, 18/08/2009 - 10:44pm — Anonymous

what rubbish

What a load of crock, how many people struggle on it now as it is, hence the new rise in september, take out one hand Rudd give with the other. Wont get my vote next time, well it stinks grandfather clause indeed another year. Also 100k funding for welfare rights? who side are they on , did the feds fund them or the GLB people?, please explain?. We need a watchdog now, how many people will get sick from this not eat? outrageous.