The Civil Partnerships Bill proposes: “A civil partnership is a legally recognised relationship that [...] may be entered into by any 2 people, regardless of their sex.

“The 2 parties to a civil partnership are taken, for all purposes under territory law, to be in a domestic partnership.”

Despite these provisions, the Rudd Government will not allow the legal recognition of a 'marriage'-style ceremony.

ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell said he regretted the current Federal Government's refusal to change its position to allow for ceremonies to legalise same-sex relationships.

However, he said support from the Rudd Government had been instrumental in effecting any change to the laws.

"Indeed, it's fair to say without the approval of the Prime Minister for these new arrangements the Territory would not be able to have done anything at all," Corbell said in Sydney's The Daily Telegraph.

Using its power of veto over the territories, the Howard Government disallowed the bill after it was passed by the ACT Government in 2006.

But ACT Senator Gary Humphries said the Federal Government 's interference mocks self-government.

"This is a defeat for self-government and the principle that ACT residents should make these decisions for themselves," he said.

"If a state had done what the ACT proposed to do, the Federal Government would be unable to take this step.”

The bill is expected to be introduced on Thursday.

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