Australian Social Security entitlements, Medicare health care, tax, and employment benefits were some of the areas where gay and lesbian couples would receive equal rights.

Openly gay Labor Senator Penny Wong said her government had followed through on last year’s election promises to remove discrimination from Australian Commonwealth laws.

“They deliver, on an important day for us, on a very important election commitment”, she said. ”More importantly, they will deliver the sort of equality before the law that same-sex couples have never previously experienced.”

Liberal opposition Senator George Brandis acknowledged the significance of the bills saying they would complete law reform in the area of same-sex relationships which began 40 years ago when homosexual relationships were decriminalized. Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Australian Greens party and also openly gay, was not so commending. While he commended the  recognition of rights, he was scathing for the  lack of leadership to include equality in same-sex marriage.

“Both the older parties have a task to undertake: to communicate better with the Australian community and to understand that the pressure coming from sectional groups, minority groups, to sanction marriage for all couples regardless has great public support”, Brown said.

A poll taken by Australasia’s largest online lesbian dating and community site Pink Sofa supported Senator Brown’s sentiments with 88 per cent of the more than 4000 respondents wanting same sex marriages legalized. Website member Jenny Ball was thrilled with the outcome but also wanted more.

“This really is a milestone for the Australian Gay and Lesbian Community and is something that has been long-awaited and now brings us in line with a number of other forward-thinking countries,” Ball said.  ”The next key step is for the government to ratify the laws that currently prevent same-sex marriage, thereby removing the final piece of discrimination and marginalization against the community”.

Marriage for same-sex couples remains on the horizon however with the Labour Government as well as the opposition parties refusing to be swayed by public opinion.

“This breathlessly energetic, dazzling live concert spectacular brought the house down-and the cameras were rolling there to catch it all,” RCA Music Group said in a statement.

Back to Basics — Live and Down Under will be a 90-minute video available for $14.99 exclusively at Best Buy February 5.

“Christina’s done it again — another stunning long-form from one of music’s greatest performers. We are fortunate Best Buy shares our excitement and has partnered with us on this project,” said Tom Corson, EVP/GM of RCA.

The concert features 18 songs from the four-time Grammy Award-winning superstar’s career, including hit singles “Ain’t No Other Man” and “Candyman” and number one hits “Come on Over Baby (All I Want Is You)” and “What a Girl Wants.”

The DVD captures the excitement of this lavish tour, from the unique stage with 3 distinct scenes, more than 600 moving lights and a state-of-the-art hydraulic system, to production incorporating everything from burlesque cabaret to trapeze choreography, fire jugglers, and stilt walkers-but the heart and soul of the show is Christina Aguilera, with her awe-inspiring voice and silver-screen charisma. Bonus material gives viewers a true 360 degree perspective of the tour by featuring exclusive interviews with her dancers, wardrobe (Simone Harouche), hair and makeup (Stephen Sollitto), musicians, background vocalists, musical director (Rob Lewis), Jordan Bratman (Christina’s husband) and Christina herself.

Aguilera has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and created four number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She is also a three-time Grammy Award-winner.

Track list:
Disc 1:
1. Into: Back to Basics
2. Ain’t No Other Man
3. Back In The Day
4. Understand
5. Come On Over
6. Slow Down Baby
7. Still Dirrty
8. I Got Trouble
9. Makes Me Wanna Pray
10. What A Girl Wants
11. Oh Mother
12. Enter The Circus
13. Welcome
14. Dirrty
15. Candyman
16. Nasty Naughty Boy
17. Hurt
18. Lady Marmalade
19. Encore: Thank You
20. Beautiful
21. Fighter
Disc 2: Special Features- Exclusive Behind the Scenes Footage & Interviews