Australia to remove almost 100 anti-gay laws

Australia will remove almost 100 discriminatory laws preventing gay couples from sharing financial and social entitlements enjoyed by married and defacto couples, such as superannuation and pension death benefits.  But the legislative overhaul, to occur when the Labor government sits for its first budget session in May, will not change marriage laws to include gay marriages.

"The government believes that marriage is between a man and a woman so it won't amend the marriage act," Attorney-General Robert McClelland said on Wednesday in announcing the changes.

"But in all other areas that we've identified, the issue of discrimination against same-sex couples will be removed," McClelland told reporters.

 Australia to remove almost 100 anti-gay laws
Reuters