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Making commercial surrogacy illegal only makes aspiring parents go elsewhere
By Dr. Paula Gerber When many people hear the word “surrogacy” their immediate reaction is to think of the plight of Baby Gammy, abandoned in Thailand by his intended parents. Yet stories like this do not reflect the experience of hundreds of Australians who travel overseas every year to start a family through compensated surrogacy.…
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Turnbull can’t be Australia’s leader for reform until human rights are respected
By Paula Gerber Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs recently claimed that the impact of the change of prime minister – from Tony Abbott to Malcolm Turnbull – will be “profound”. Polls show Turnbull is vastly popular. And, according to political commentator Barrie Cassidy: Australian politics has entered a new and positive era. But how…
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A plebiscite on same-sex marriage would be inconsistent with children’s rights
By Paula Gerber The Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs is conducting an inquiry into whether Australia should have a plebiscite on same-sex marriage. It has received a total of 36 submissions from individuals and organisations, which are both for and against holding a national vote. The committee conducted public hearings on September 10.…
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With no Coalition free vote, where to now on the road to same-sex marriage?
By Paula Gerber The much-anticipated announcement of the government’s position on same-sex marriage raised more questions than it answered. By rejecting a free vote on same-sex marriage for Coalition MPs during this term of parliament, the government ensured that Australia will continue to be the only developed English-speaking country in the world where marriage is an…
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Out of the frying pan and into the fire: the plight of LGBTI refugees
By Paula Gerber and Jasmine Dawson Countries such as the US, Ireland, Finland and Scotland have recently joined the growing list of nations legalising same-sex marriage. But in many parts of the world the situation for LGBTI people is getting worse – rather than better. There are 77 countries that still criminalise homosexuality. The majority of these…
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No Andrew, it is not the responsibility of the LGBT community to help you hang on to your 1950s ideal of marriage
By Paula Gerber As a long time supporter of marriage equality and the rights of LGBT people, I generally find my views are diametrically opposed to those of conservative commentator Andrew Bolt. Imagine my surprise then to find Bolt citing my work to support his argument that the gay community must now adopt a conservative…
Castan Centre for Human Rights Law 