Too little, too late for grieving partner

HOBART man Ben Jago’s world fell apart in January last year when his partner of five years, Nathan, unexpectedly took his own life.

Ben Jago, of Old Beach, lost his partner Nathan last year but his grief was compounded when told he was not officially recognised as the next of kin. P icture: KIM EISZELE

HOBART man Ben Jago’s world fell apart in January last year when his partner of five years, Nathan, unexpectedly took his own life.

But as traumatic as the situation was, worse was to come for a grieving Mr Jago.

After enduring a lengthy police interview and then a difficult phone conversation with Nathan’s family, Mr Jago was officially informed by authorities that he was not his partner’s next of kin.

Nathan was buried in Ulverstone.

Consequently, Mr Jago lost control of his partner’s body, with Nathan’s parents making the decision to bury their son in his home town of Ulverstone. After taking advice from Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome, Mr Jago lodged a complaint with the Anti-Discrimination Commission against both the police and the Coroner’s Office.

He wanted to prevent his experiences being suffered by other same-sex couples.

“The Coroner’s Office told me that the only way I could be considered Nathan’s next of kin was if our relationship was registered,” Mr Jago said.

“Ours wasn’t, but I was never provided with the opportunity to submit any evidence that we were a couple.

“I was told I was to see Nathan’s body again, but that did not happen until the funeral.”

Mr Jago’s lawyer, Hobart Community Legal Service solicitor Ben Bartl, said the Coroner had recently written to his client acknowledging that he had in fact shared a “significant relationship” with Nathan.

But after several rounds of conciliation with both the police and Coroner’s Office, Mr Bartl said the complaint remained active, with a final decision about whether it goes to the Anti-Discrimination Commission’s tribunal due by the end of the month.

“If the Coroner’s Office’s decision had been made 18 months ago we would not be in the situation we are in now,” he said.

Mr Jago, who was engaged to Nathan and was preparing to marry in New Zealand, said his experiences highlighted the need for marriage law reform

The Coroner’s Office’s letter was a small victory, but it’s really just a piece of paper,” he said.

“I just don’t want this to happen to anyone else, because I believe it has happened before.”

Mr

Croome said same-sex partners have had legal rights, including next of kin, under Tasmanian law since 2004.

But he said there was still the need for public officials to be better educated about these rights.

“I call on the Government to do more to ensure there is a better understanding of the rights of same-sex partners, both in the public service and in the general community,” he said.

Originally published as Too little, too late for grieving partner