The Australian Family Association (AFA) has attacked Melbourne Council for proposing a relationship register for its gay and lesbian constituents. The plan would allow same-sex couples the right to publicly recognise their partnerships with the option of town hall ceremonies.

Angela Conway, a spokeswoman for the AFA, described the gay union proposal as ⿿annoying⿝. She told Melbourne⿿s Herald Sun, ⿿Councils need to provide an appropriate level of facilities and resources for families and children.⿿ Convenor for the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, Gerard Brody, welcomed the proposal, naming Melbourne Council as ⿿progressive⿿. Mr Brody encouraged all local governments to introduce such a register as a major step towards same-sex marriage in this country.

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Port Philip and Stonnington Councils have shown interest and may follow suit. Under Australiaâ¿¿s Marriage Act, amended by the Howard Government with the support of Labor in 2004, only unions between men and women are recognised. The Victorian Bracks government has repeatedly avoided the subject.