Norris criticises proposals for civil unions

PROMINENT gay rights campaigner Senator David Norris last night criticised proposals for civil unions that will require those in same-sex relationships to register with the State in order to have the same rights as marriage-based families.

The proposal, made in a report on the family by the All-Party Committee on the Constitution, does not require heterosexual couples to register to gain the same rights.

Mr Norris, who plans to publish his own civil union bill to address the issue, said the discrimination between gay and heterosexual families was unjustified.