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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 3 Hansard (11 March) . . Page.. 858 ..

We have seen some of that. There is a range of views around traditional notions of marriage, particularly marriage between a man and a woman, as being the only legitimate form of relationship, marriage, or partnership that we should support. I have received letters and representations as well. They are issues we will deal with down the track.

Look at the legislation and the nature of the issues we are dealing with today. We are dealing with an amendment to the Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997 to allow a domestic partner-that is now to allow somebody in a same-sex relationship-to have access, perhaps in moments of crisis, to their partner's records. Why do you want to refer that to a committee?

Take somebody who has been living in a relationship with somebody of the same sex for 20 years. In a moment of crisis, the person's life is threatened, or their health is at enormous risk. At the time, they can't have access to that person's health records, for the purpose of making the decisions that need to be made by a loved one. You need to look at what we're doing today. That is petty discrimination.

Mrs Burke: We do. That is just what we are doing-touché!

MR STANHOPE: You have not looked. My point is that you have not looked to see what it is that we are doing today. We are dealing with 37 pieces of legislation. We are essentially removing outdated, petty, discriminatory provisions which impact on a significant group of our neighbours, friends and fellow residents of this city.

Go through the list of legislation we are dealing with today. go through the list of amendments we are making, and just ponder that you do not want to proceed with an amendment to the Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act which, in those circumstances, allows access to a partner.

We are making an amendment to the Land (Planning and Environment) Act-the PALM Act-to be inclusive of people within same-sex relationships. We are making an amendment to the Legal Practitioners Act because, at the moment, there are certain issues in relation to what a lawyer, I think, can tell their spouse in relation to the keeping of records by legal practitioners.

Look at the change to the Liquor Act and the issues in relation to periodic detention and searches. We are amending the Pharmacy Act and the Powers of Attorney Act.

The amendment to the Powers of Attorney Act is shocking. It imposes an obligation on people in same-sex relationships which they currently do not have. It requires of them the same standards that apply to heterosexual couples.

Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.

Sitting suspended from 12.28 to 2.30 pm.