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Gay and lesbian couples in Australia will soon have access to many of the same rights and services as straight couples who live together.

Around 100 laws related to family, health and taxation have been amended by the Senate to include same-sex relationships. The bill rewrites legal definitions of ‘couple’, ‘partner’, ‘parent’, ‘child’ and ‘family’ to include all couples and their children.

Some of the new changes under the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws – General Law Reform) Bill 2008 include access to family benefits under the state-run health care program, the chance to leave retirement benefits to a partner in the case of death, and full parental rights for couples with children.

“Today is an historic day,” said New South Wales Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby spokesperson Peter Johnson. “The Australian Senate has finally and firmly given its nod to equality for our relationships and families. Our partners and our children can look forward to equality in almost all areas of federal law, from taxation to health and aged care, from immigration to family law.

“Same-sex couples and families are witnessing the tearing up and rewriting of almost all Commonwealth law to finally recognise the truth that all love is equal and nurturing all relationships, regardless of the gender of partners, is important.”

However, although same-sex couples now have many of the same rights as straight couples, they still cannot get married.

The Marriage Act was redrawn by the last Conservative government to define marriage as between one man and one woman, a change which is supported by the governing Labour party.

“It [gay marriage] won’t be part of this government’s agenda,” said Attorney-General Robert McClelland. “The Labor Party policy is firm that marriage is between a man and a woman.”

Despite the gay marriage issue, openly gay Labor Senator Penny Wong said her Government had followed through on last year’s election promises to remove discrimination from Commonwealth laws. “They deliver, on an important day for us, on a very important election commitment”, Wong said.

More importantly, they will deliver the sort of equality before the law that same-sex couples have never previously experienced.”

The legislation will now go to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass.

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