The Australian state of Tasmania now recognises same-sex relations in official registry.

Couples entering a Tasmanian Deed of Relationship will soon have the option of an official relationship ceremony.

From November 1st the Tasmanian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages will change its procedures to allow a couple to bring their Deed of Relationship into effect by signing their relationship certificate in a ceremony presided over by a marriage celebrant.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, welcomed the initiative saying "this provides same-sex and other couples with a way to have that 'special day', on which they officially declare and affirm their relationship in front of friends and family members".

"Tasmania led the nation with the establishment of our registry of personal relationships, and now it is leading with official ceremonial recognition of these relationships."

"Tasmania's Relationships Act is a sound body of law based on equity and fairness, but until now that body has lacked a heart."

Couples entering a Deed of Relationship will be able to nominate anyone, including a marriage celebrant, to officially receive their relationship certificate on their behalf and confer it on them at a ceremony that involves the partners and the celebrant signing the certificate to begin the new legal relationship. The date on which the ceremonial signing takes place will be the date on which the relationship is officially registered at the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages and from which the new legal relationship commences. The Deed does not commence until the certificate is signed.

Until now, some couples have had informal ceremonies to coincide with their application for a Deed of Relationship, but from November the official and ceremonial sides of registering a Deed of Relationship will be closely inter-linked.

In other developments coinciding with the new official ceremonies, couples will have the choice of a range of commemorative relationship certificates to be signed as part of their ceremony. Also, the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages will publish fact sheets explaining the benefits of Deeds of Relationships and tackling the myths which have grown up around them.

Couples will continue to have the option of receiving a commemorative certificate without a ceremony, or having neither a commemorative certificate or a ceremony.

Couples in Tasmanian Deeds of Relationship have virtually the same rights as married couples in both state and federal law, and are also recognised as civil partners in countries such as the UK.

145 couples have registered Deeds of Relationship in Tasmania since the scheme was established in 2004, which is exactly proportional to the number of civil unions registered in New Zealand (there have been 9 revocations leaving the current number at 136).

The planned start-date for the new arrangements is November 1st. Ceremonies will not begin to occur until a month after they become available, due to the 28 day period it takes to process applications for Deeds of Relationship.

A "Deed of Relationship" is the Tasmanian equivalent of a civil union. It is also sometimes called a "registered relationship", a "recognised relationship" or a "civil partnership".

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.