Health Minister Michelle O’Byrne’s amended Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill passed the lower house 13 votes to 11 in April. It is likely to be debated in the upper house commencing 12th June.

The deadline to respond to a euthanasia discussion paper has now elapsed. We anticipate the Tasmanian Parliament will consider a private members bill to legalise euthanasia in the state later this year.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has set up a parliamentary inquiry to explore whether NSW can go it alone and redefine marriage. The inquiry was established after a cross-party group of MPs announced they would be introducing a state-based same-sex marriage law into the NSW Parliament this year.

The state government appears intent on fully decriminalising prostitution (making brothels and street work legal). A report summarising the findings of a discussion paper released in early 2012 is still pending.

Children deserve a mum and a dad wherever possible, but apparently not in Tasmania, where the Government plans to allow same-sex couples to adopt 'unknown' children.