About time too

When the government wants to legislate it can do so at the drop of a hat and make the legislation retrospective. The following has taken years and years to change.

On April 1 2007 Work and Income will begin treating same-sex couples the same way as heterosexual couples. This report, originally in the SST, describes how benefits will be cut to the couple rate instead of two single rates.

What it doesn't cover is what I am picking will affect far more same-sex couples. Currently a mother can be on the DPB and her female partner working. This because they are not recognised as a couple under the Social Security Act.

But from April 1 the lesbian female getting the DPB should not be getting anything just as a heterosexual female wouldn't qualify for the DPB if she had a working partner.

Now that could affect far more couples than those who are both on benefits. I wonder how many will front up about their relationships and how many will stay mum? Perhaps they could simply deny there is any degree of companionship demonstrating an emotional commitment and therefore their relationship does not fit the legal definition, 'in the nature of a marriage'. That's worked for thousands of heterosexual couples.