Naming laws begin today

Female same-sex couples in South Australia from today can place both their names on their child’s birth certificate.

The Family Relationships (Parentage) Amendment Act 2011 passed parliament in June to allow lesbian couples to place both their names on the certificate of a child who was conceived through medical fertilisation.

The bill was originally introduced by Greens MLC Tammy Franks who previously told Gay News Network, “I am delighted that this bill – which grants same sex couples equal parenting rights – has at last passed through the South Australian Parliament.”

The non-biological parent can now be named as the “co-parent” which will allow both female parents to be legally recognised rather than just the biological parents.

The bill passed the Upper House last November and passed the Lower House with 24 votes in favour of the bill and 15 against.

Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion Ian Hunter said South Australia was the last state to pass such a law.

“This is a law whose time has come,” Hunter said.

“Lesbian parents have for a long time been denied the right to register both mothers on their child’s birth certificate.

“However, heterosexual couples whose child has been conceived with donor sperm have had the equivalent right since 1985, with the mother’s partner being legally recognised as the father.

“This new law will at last give de facto lesbian couples in South Australia the same rights as others to be formally recognised as co-parents and ensure their child has two legal parents.”

Standard procedure for Births, Deaths and Marriages ensures that any child born and registered before the Act came into force can also have their birth registration amended accordingly.

Franks called it a "victory for common sense and decency".

“This Act finally puts an end to years of discrimination for same-sex parents and ends the stigma of South Australia being the last Australian state or territory to properly recognise same-sex parenting," she said.

“Now both parents are recognised under law, removing the difficulties previously faced by non-biological co-parents such as consenting to medical treatment, signing forms for school excursions, or when travelling alone with their child."

Information on the new law and how the procedures for lesbian parents will work is available by telephoning Births, Deaths and Marriages in Consumer and Business Services on 131 882. Up-to-date information sheets will also be posted on the web next week at www.cbs.sa.gov.au