Human Rights At Any Price! Uh…How Much Again?

The government of Australia is considering whether or not to bring forward measures in next month’s Budget that will give same-sex couples equality in a range of areas.

Last year the country’s Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) report was presented to the federal parliament listing the 58 laws that need to be changed to grant gay, bisexual and lesbian Australians equal rights.

The Labour party promised reform during last year’s elections, including tackling the unequal treatment of an estimated 20,000 same-sex couples in tax, pensions, old age care, health benefits and insurance.

Now in government, the party has discovered the changes will cost $400m (£190m) over four years and is considering postponing their introduction until next year.

The rest.