All couples, regardless of gender or marital status, have equal rights and responsibilities relating to the following areas:

• Protection from discrimination
• Payment of stamp duties
• Involvement in medical treatment
• Guardianship applications
• State Government superannuation schemes
• State Government compensation schemes
• Compensation for crimes of domestic violence
• Tenancies, housing and property matters
• Rules about honesty relating to various business licensing schemes
• Inheritance matters
• Property division on relationship breakdown.

The Act amends various Acts in relation to domestic relationships, namely:

Property Related Benefits - Schedule 1:

Administration and Probate Act 1958
Duties Act 2000
First Home Owner Grant Act 2000
Land Act 1958
Land Tax Act 1958
Landlord and Tenant Act 1958
Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 1968
Property Law Act 1958
Residential Tenancies Act 1997
Retail Tenancies Reform Act 1998
Sale of Land Act 1962
Stamps Act 1958
Wills Act 1997

Compensation Schemes - Schedule 2:

Accident Compensation Act 1985
Education Act 1958
Police Assistance Compensation Act 1968
Transport Accident Act 1986

Superannuation Schemes - Schedule 3:

Country Fire Authority Act 1958
Emergency Services Superannuation Act 1986
Parliamentary Salaries and Superannuation Act 1968
State Employees Retirement Benefits Act 1979
State Superannuation Act 1988
Superannuation (Portability) Act 1989
Transport Superannuation Act 1988

Health Related Legislation - Schedule 4:

Alcoholics and Drug-dependent Persons Act 1968
Coroners Act 1985
Health Act 1958
Health Records Act 2001
Human Tissue Act 1982
Mental Health Act 1986

Criminal Law Legislation - Schedule 5

Crimes (Family Violence) Act 1987
Victims of Crime Assistance Act 1996

Consumer & Business Legislation - Schedule 6

Co-operative Housing Societies Act 1958
Goods Act 1958
Motor Car Traders Act 1986
Partnership Act 1958
Prostitution Control Act 1994
Retirement Villages Act 1986
Second-Hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 1989
Trustee Companies Act 1984

General Legislation - Schedule 7:

Equal Opportunity Act 1995
Guardianship and Administration Act 1986