Gay couples set for defence rights win (Australia)

[kweerwolf]

Gay soldiers, sailors and pilots in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) look set to get access to family benefits, and death and injury compensation for the first time.

Until now, only the partners of servicemen and women in heterosexual relationships were recognised for housing assistance, removals, travel, leave and other benefits, like education assistance.

But in an ADF memo, the government has announced it will extend the benefits to people in other "interdependent" relationships, which include same-sex couples.

"The government has agreed to changes to ADF policy that will extend the conditions of service which apply to member with dependents and member with dependants (separated) to include ADF personnel in interdependent relationships," the ADF memo said.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=68179