Aussie Gays Lose Civil Union Laws

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA -- Australian same-sex couples are losing their new civil union laws, which were introduced just three weeks ago, after the federal government said they would overturn the laws.

The ACT parliament (Australian Capitol Territory) voted three weeks ago to allow gay couples to enter into a civil union, with almost the same status as marriage, but Prime Minister John Howard put into play Commonwealth powers to scrap the territory laws before they could be used.

"The legislation, by its own admission, is an attempt to equate civil unions with marriage and we don't find that acceptable," Mr Howard said.

"Our view is very simple ... the founding fathers, in their wisdom, gave constitutional authority in relation to these matters to the Commonwealth."

The Australian federal parliament voted in 2004 to explicitly define marriage as a union between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others.

Gay rights activist Rod Swift said the federal government's move was another example of what he calls "straight Australia policy".

"The moves by the cabinet today to override the ACT is a shameful, despicable abuse by the Howard government," he said in a statement.

"An overwhelming majority of Australians want same-sex couples recognised by the federal government, not wilfully discriminated against and marginalised."