High Court overturns wife's right to silence against her husband: http://ow.ly/7Jnpy

On World AIDS Day, will Qld grant civil partnerships?

Heavy on symbolism: will Queensland grant civil partnerships?

Tonight the Queensland parliament will vote on the Treasurer, Andrew Fraser’s Private Members Bill for civil partnerships.  This will allow civil unions to be celebrated and recognised in Queensland as well as civil unions to be recognised from interstate and overseas.  Civil partnerships will be available for both gay and straight couples.

The numbers are finally balanced.  Labor MP’s have been told that they have a conscience vote.  Three Labor MP’s have gone on the record to say that they are opposed to civil partnerships: Margaret Keech, Michael Choi and Jo-Ann Miller.

It is not known at this stage how the other Labor members will vote, but there are probably only one or two votes in it.

LNP members have been told by their party to vote against the Bill.  If the debate on the Surrogacy Bill last year is any guide, then all the independent MP’s will vote against the Bill.

When the Bill was considered by the parliamentary committee, the Labour MP’s voted in favour of it, the LNP members against it, and the sole independent on the committee also voted against it, citing the Bible.

Tomorrow’s World AIDS Day – 1 December

The debate on the Bill commences at 7.30pm tonight.  It is most unlikely that the Bill will be passed before midnight and it is most likely that the crucial votes on the Bill will take place sometime between 3am and 5am tomorrow on World Aids Day.  What an achievement it will be for equality if on the 30^th anniversary of the discovery of AIDS there is a recognition of equality in civil partnerships in Queensland.  What a bitter irony it will be if Queensland refuses to recognise civil partnerships on such a symbolic day.

Rally Tonight

There will be a rally at Queensland’s Parliament House in George Street at 5pm today.  I am told the speakers will be the Premier Anna Bligh, the Treasurer Andrew Fraser and a “special guest”.

Tonight I went to the 25th celebration of Immigrant Women's Support Service: helping women and their kids escape domestic violence.

I have just signed the ipetition in favour of the Civil Partnerships Bill: http://ow.ly/7GBL4

I don't like to give oxygen to people like this, but a man was tied to the Story Bridge, protesting re the Family Ct: http://ow.ly/7GtYF

Grim pickings for gays 2: Russia: The Guardian http://ow.ly/7FYQz The scariest part is to see the rise of neoNazis in Russia.

Grim pickings for gays 1: Brazil: NY Times http://ow.ly/7FYPk

I'm going tonight to Andrew Fraser's community forum on his Civil Partnerships Bill 7.30pm New Farm State School.

Husband of missing Cairns woman charged with her murder: Cairns Post http://ow.ly/7CnqP

Ex US Marine convicted of the stabbing murder of his former boss: ABC http://ow.ly/7sngu

Judge orders swapping of Facebook and dating website passwords: ABA Journal http://ow.ly/7r1Jh As ever, FB is a goldmine for family lawyers.

I'm going to Kevin Rudd's cocktail party on White Ribbon Day to help aid Australia's CEO Challenge. Will you join me? http://ow.ly/7oXRo

Progress of the Civil Partnerships Bill Qld in committee: Brisbane Times http://ow.ly/7oXpA

The president of the Qld Law Society spoke strongly in favour of the Civil Partnerships Bill. Hopefully another step to equality.

57 year old IVF mum calls for 50 year old limit for mums to be: Brisbane Times http://ow.ly/7kNB3

Gillard to allow conscience vote on gay marriage: Daily Telegraph http://ow.ly/7kfLt

Qld police to be able to issue on the spot domestic violence orders: http://ow.ly/7kfKh