The De Facto Relationships Act 1984 (NSW) provided the first official recognition of which kind of de facto couples?

• A. Heterosexual de facto couples
• B. Same-sex de facto couples
• C. All de facto couples
• D. Cross-border de facto couples

Answer: (A)

This question tests understanding of which group the De Facto Relationships Act 1984 (NSW) first officially recognized. The act was the first statute in NSW to provide formal recognition and remedies for de facto relationships, but its initial scope was limited to heterosexual couples—two people of opposite sexes living together in a genuine domestic relationship. It did not extend to same-sex couples at that time, and it did not automatically cover all de facto relationships or cross-border situations. So the correct answer is heterosexual de facto couples.