Recommendation 220
Open legal partnership models to all, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity
State
Iceland
Issue
Domestic legal, institutional and policy frameworks
Population group
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or intersex (LGBTI) people
Australian Government Agency and/or Jurisdiction
• Attorney-General's Department
• States and territories
Australia's Response
Notes
Australia's Position
Responsibility for marriage laws in Australia rests with the Australian Government. On 7 December 2017, the Australian Parliament passed legislation to amend the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth) to redefine marriage as 'the union of 2 people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life'. From 9 December 2017 the right to marry under Australian law will no longer be determined by sex or gender.
Most states and territories have relationship recognition schemes, regardless of the sexual orientation or gender identity of the parties.