Have your say on same-sex declaration register

Community members are being encouraged to have their say on the potential establishment of a relationship declaration register that would recognise same-sex unions in the Town of Port Hedland.

The draft policy will be debated in council later this month, with public comment being sought by August 5.

If adopted, the Town would become the first local council in regional WA and the second in the State to recognise same-sex unions.

Mayor Kelly Howlett has previously said that although the register would not be equivalent to same-sex marriage, which falls under Federal legislation, it is a formal recognition of a relationship.

“Under the proposed policy, couples living in Western Australia will be able to declare that they are partners and have this declaration recorded in the Town of Port Hedland relationship declaration register, ” she said.

“The declaration would not change the legal status of the persons making the declaration, however … (it) may be presented as evidence of the existence of that relationship in some legal proceedings.”

Hedland couple Gloria Jacob and Niki White, who have been together for seven years, said the recognition would be a step in the right direction.

“If anything happens to either one of us, neither of us would have the right to say yes turn off the life support or keep it on, it’s things like that that are emotional, ” Ms White said.

Ms Jacob, who is deputy mayor, brought the request to establish a same-sex union register to the Town in May on behalf of the Port Hedland Lesbian and Gay Society, which has more than 140 members.

“For us it’s important because it’s about giving us the right to recognise our status, ” she said. “It’s every human’s right to choose — we’re not asking for anything other than to be treated equally.”

The draft policy is available on the Town’s website.