Tuesday, 12 November 2024

 Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:54): (1225) My question is to the Minister for Government Services. My Traralgon-based constituent Mr Burgmann has been unable to prove he is single and is wishing to remarry. He is planning to get married on 20 November, and family are flying in from overseas. He had been separated for eight years, and his wife passed away in 2022. He cannot legally remarry because he cannot access his former wife’s death certificate to prove that he is single. Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria say he is a third party and they will not provide it. Also, marriage celebrants will not marry him because they fear it would be illegal if he applies for a no-record-of-marriage certificate. Minister, I made representations to your office in October twice and in November twice, and given the urgency, I ask you to intervene and fix up this bungle so that Mr Burgmann may be able to get correct documentation and marry in eight days time.