Second Australia Region To Recognize Gay Couples

For the second time in less than a week an Australian region has unveiled plans to give rights to same-sex couples.

The Victoria state government on Tuesday filed legislation to create a domestic partner registry.
The bill does not go as far as one announced Friday in the Australian Capital Territory which would allow civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, but it will afford couples proof of their relationship Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls said.

Hulls said the bill will be debated in Parliament in February and he expects to pass it in March. "This is not marriage, and there is no ceremony attached to it," said Hulls. "It's simply a way of making it easier for people to access rights that they've been entitled to."