The Australian government has introduced new regulations that grant legal recognition to homosexual relationships for the purpose of immigration. The official inclusion for homosexual partners in immigration law represents a major victory for Australian activists who have been campaigning on the issue for seven years. There were 650 slots in 1995. The number was later reduced to 400 and now officials are proposing 200 slots for 1998. Non-married heterosexuals will get 25,600 slots, an increase of 2,000.
Few schemes recognise same-sex partners.
Many employers provide benefits such as payment of relocation expenses but in most companies, these apply only to heterosexual partners. Both Federal and State compensation law's allow for compensation to dependents if someone dies as a result of a work-related injury. Both use definitions of husband, wife, family etc which exclude same-sex Partners. The Federal Police decides to extend spousal rights to same sex couples. The Tribunal's view is that the concept of a 'particular social group' involves a certain degree of homogeneity and some degree of inner structure.