South Australia to Finally Recognise Same-Sex Marriages

Following a tragic event in January this year, South Australia is changing the law to recognise same-sex marriages.

After the husband of a British man died on his honeymoon earlier in the year, the spouse was forced to put ‘never married’ on his death certificate due to the current lack of laws in the Australian state.

Marco Bulmer-Rizzi was on the last stop of his honeymoon when his husband David fell down stairs and cracked his skull in January.

Tragically, David passed away and Marco began to organise his spouse’s funeral, only to effectively be stopped from playing any role in it – because of Australian law.

South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not recognise same-sex marriages performed in other countries, so David’s death certificate was registered as ‘never married’.

However today, eleven months later, South Australia have revealed that they will now legally recognise gay overseas marriages, and will introduce a new register to recognise same-sex couples in the state.

This follows recent news that Bills granting same-sex couples the right to adopt a child and access to surrogacy have passed South Australia’s parliament.

Marco, who spoke out saying he was overwhelmed to be able to finally change David’s marriage status, wrote on Facebook: “Today is a good day for same-sex couples.

“I get to change the last document that was ever issued for you David.

“And it will be a complete and honest reflection of who you were.”

Those on the new register can now enjoy many of the same rights as opposite-sex couples, including a recognition of next-of-kin status.

Last Updated on Dec 12, 2016