The Australian Senate voted this Tuesday (25) in favor of extending benefits to same-sex couples, in areas such as taxes, health and pensions. However, the law that would allow gay marriage is not yet scheduled to be voted on.
The changes to the country's legislation were driven by the action of Senator Penny Wong, 39, who is an open lesbian. In December, Wong was promoted to Minister of Climate Change and Water. Born in Malaysia, Wong moved to Australia in 1977 when she was eight years old. She worked as a lawyer before being elected as a Labor Party senator in 2001.
Currently, gays and lesbians in Australia have fewer benefits than heterosexuals. In May, the government was accused of “playing with the far-right religious lobby” after forcing the country's capital territory not to recognize homosexual rights.
In 2004, then-Prime Minister John Howard's government banned same-sex marriage, which had been approved by the Senate.
