ACT Labor is calling on the Greens to back its proposed improvements to the territory's civil union laws, telling them not to block good changes just because they want a ''perfect'' outcome.
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The government has introduced legislation that effectively reinstates the 2006 civil union laws that were struck out by the then federal Coalition government, which argued they were too similar to marriage. A watered down version, which is still in place, eventually replaced it.
The Greens supported the 2006 laws, but legal affairs spokesman Shane Rattenbury said, while he supported the intent of the bill, it was the wrong time to debate it. He feared the bill could ''distract and undermine the national marriage equality debate''.
ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell said his legislation would give same-sex couples the same rights as people married under the Marriage Act. ''So my message to the Greens is don't stop good things from happening while you wait for perfect things to happen,'' he said.
''This is a big challenge for the Greens; they have to show that they're prepared to compromise and achieve progressive law reform whilst always working towards even better outcomes.''
The ACT Liberals will oppose the bill, meaning it needs Greens support to pass.
Mr Rattenbury said marriage equality advocates had advised the Greens the debate on the bill could undermine attempts to alter the federal Marriage Act to allow same-sex marriage.
The Greens would consult with community groups before deciding whether to support the bill.
