A controversial new bill that will remove the word ‘father’ from birth certificates will be bought before Australian government this week.
The bill will recognise lesbian couple who have children through IVF.
Fifty laws across New South Wales covering the Local Government Act, Industrial Relations Act and the constitution will be amended to include new parental presumption protection for female same-sex couples.
The bill equates the position of a lesbian partner of a woman who has a child after becoming pregnant by a fertilisation procedure, other than sexual intercourse, with the position of a married woman’s husband. Lesbian parents will see expressions such as “birth mother” replace “mother” and “both parents” to replace “the father and the mother” on birth certificates.
However, some members of the NSW Local Government have voiced concerns over the bill. Shadow Attorney-General Greg Smith said some MPs were concerned that the role of fatherhood was undermined by the bill.
The conservative Australian Family Association is campaigning against the change.
Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby spokeswoman Emily Gray said the changes would give children added emotional and financial stability.
