Following reports of drastic and extraordinary lengths that members are going to to have their interdependent partnership approved by Defence, DEFGLIS provides the low down on what to do if your relationship is not yet recognised.
UPDATED INFORMATION (18 May 2016): New rules for recognising contemporary unwed Defence families
If you are in a relationship and you are not living together, you may have difficulty being recognized as in an Interdependent Partnership. This is because the policy outlined in Defence Instruction (General) Personnel 53-1 requires that in normal circumstances you and your partner cohabitate in a single residence for a minimum of 90 days in order for your Commanding Officer to approve the application for recognition.
However, PACMAN.1.3.77A makes provision for each of the personnel branches to approve Interdependent Partnerships where this normal requirement is not met.
Air Force Sergeant Phillip Bond, a member of DEFGLIS, tells the Hobart Mercury what its like to be gay in the Air Force in the article: Defence in age of equality.
Image: Air Force Sergeant Phillip Bond at RAAF Base Williamtown. Photo: Australian Defence Force
DEFGLIS Transgender Adviser Amy Hamblin from RAAF Base Williams – Point Cook joined with the Mayor and residents of Wyndham City to raise a rainbow flag for International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).
The stories however come alongside reports of further action being taken against the Department of Defence by John Davey for victims of the ADF Facebook gay-hate scandal of 2010, where five members of the military were outed and received death threats: Army sued on gay hate scandal.
Photo 1: Chief Petty Officer Stuart O'Brien, right, with his partner, Chris Matterson. Photo: Penny Bradfield for Fairfax MediaPhoto 2: Air Commodore Tracy Smart at her promotion ceremony with her partner Lisa, and the Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Mark Binskin AM