The following is some of a newspaper article I saw last week.  Perhaps some
people from Canberra can give us more information on this. (For those outside
Australia, the ACT [Australian Capital Territory] is Canberra plus suburbs and
is self governing to a degree but not a state.)

Damian.

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GAY RELATIONSHIPS WIN LEGAL STATUS                 by Christopher Dore

[from The Weekend Australian May 21 1994 (reprinted without permission)]

GAY relationships will be legally recognised for the first time under landmark
laws passed in the ACT that expand the traditional concept of de facto
relationships.

The new laws recognise property rights for partners in traditional de facto
relationships as well as other relationships involving financial commitment
and domestic support.

The move by the ACT government expands on laws adopted in other states that
restrict property rights recognition to heterosexual de facto relationships and
marriage.

Under the changes, gay couples and carers of disabled and elderly people will
be able to make claims to the Magistrates Court where they can prove they have
contributed to the "property of the other person or their child".

[Some deleted]

Mr Connolly [the ACT Attorney General] said that whether there had been a
sexual relationship between the parties was irrelevant.

[more deleted]

The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby said yesterday the passage of the legislation
was a significant reform that should be adopted by other States to give
recognition to gay relationships.

---
Damian Meyer
damian@perth.dialix.oz.au