The Australian state of Victoria's gay and lesbian couples will have access to the same legal rights as heterosexual couples if the State Government has its way. Senior Government sources have confirmed Victoria Premier Steve Bracks, who was previously wary of the idea, now fully supported a statewide relationship register, and wanted to introduce it as soon as possible – perhaps by the end of this year. Bracks told senior local government figures last night that progress was being made on the proposal for a register, after Attorney-General Rob Hulls backed the plan. Gay and lesbian groups were last night celebrating the news. "It's been a long time coming, but this is a significant step for same-sex couples," Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby co-convener Gerard Brody said. "We will be the second state in Australia with this legislation, so we are not too far behind," he said. "But Australia is still behind the rest of the world." The Australian Christian Lobby, which pressured the Howard Government to strike down the Australian Capital Territory's Civil Partnership Bill because it "mimicked marriage", offered cautious acceptance for the plan last night. "We are not opposed to the removal of unreasonable discrimination for same-sex couples," state director Railton Hill said. But it was important the legislation did not extend the right of adoption to homosexual couples, he said. Sources confirmed last night that the Victorian register would be similar to Tasmania's, under which same-sex couples can achieve legal recognition by lodging an application with a government authority. Ref: The Age (m)