Spouse

Spouse is further defined by the Act, to include de facto and cultural situations:

“spouse” includes:

(a)in relation to an employee or a deceased employee - a person of the opposite sex to the employee who lives with, or immediately before the date of the employee's death lived with, the employee as the spouse of the employee on a bona fide domestic basis although not legally married to the employee; and

(b)in relation to an employee or a deceased employee who is or was a member of the Aboriginal race of Australia or a descendant of indigenous inhabitants of the Torres Strait Islands - a person who is or was recognised as the employee's husband or wife by the custom prevailing in the tribe or group to which the employee belongs or belonged.”