Legal Rights for Lesbians and Gay Men ... A Brief Introduction

Throughout Australia’s history, the law has denied basic rights to lesbians and gay men. The last 25 years, however, have seen a number of changes to the law that have brought lesbian and gay rights closer to those enjoyed by heterosexuals. Some of the most significant changes occurred in 1999, when the NSW Government introduced a number of changes to de facto relationships laws. More about Equal Rights. Despite these broad changes, there are still some important areas of the law where lesbians and gay men do not have the same rights as heterosexuals, especially under Federal laws such as taxation, social security and Medicare. More about Unequal Rights.

About this website

This website contains the details of a revised edition of the Acts of Passion booklet published in 1999. It aims to help you understand your rights. It won’t answer every question, but it will give you an idea of how to organise your affairs. We've taken every care to state the law correctly but the law changes often and fast! You can also check this website for any updates to the law in New South Wales. Please also be aware that laws vary across the states and territories, and that this website only deals with the law in New South Wales and some areas of federal law. This website is intended as a general guide only and no responsibility is accepted for anyone relying on it. If you are in doubt or you need more detailed advice, talk to a lawyer. For details about how to get further information or advice, refer to the Further Information page.

The Understanding Your Legal Rights booklet has been prepared by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Advisory Committee of the Attorney General’s Department of NSW. More about our contributors ...