Civil Unions Act 2012

A person may apply, in writing, to the registrar-general to be registered as a civil union celebrant.

On application by a person under subsection (1), the registrar‑general may register the applicant as a civil union celebrant.

However, the registrar-general must only register a person as a civil union celebrant if satisfied that the applicant—

is an adult; and

has the knowledge and the skills or experience necessary to exercise the functions of a civil union celebrant under this Act; and

is a suitable person to be registered as a civil union celebrant.

In deciding whether a person is a suitable person to be registered as a civil union celebrant, the registrar-general must take into account the following:

whether the person has been convicted, or found guilty, in Australia of an offence punishable by imprisonment for 1 year or longer;

whether the person has been convicted, or found guilty, outside Australia of an offence that, if it had been committed in the ACT, would have been punishable by imprisonment for 1 year or longer;

whether the person has been convicted, or found guilty, of an offence against, or otherwise contravened, this Act or the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1997, part 5A (Civil unions);

whether the person is or has been bankrupt or personally insolvent;

whether the person has a physical or mental incapacity that may affect the exercise of the person’s functions as a civil union celebrant.

In deciding whether a person is a suitable person to be registered as a civil union celebrant, the registrar-general may take into account anything else the registrar-general considers relevant.