Adoption by Same-Sex Couples
Reverend the Hon. Dr GORDON MOYES: I direct my question to the Minister for Justice, representing the Minister for Community Services. As part of the terms of reference for the review of the Adoption Act will the Minister be considering removing the ban on same-sex adoption? Can the Minister explain why this very important issue was not canvassed in the issues paper released in April? Was the Minister pre-empting the finding of the report when she said prior to the final date for receipt of public submissions that the important consideration when placing children is that they simply be in a safe, secure and loving environment? Does the Minister consider as a matter of policy that all children have an inalienable right to a mother and a father?
The Hon. TONY KELLY: As the question is obviously specifically for the Minister for Community Services, I will pass it on and have an answer provided in due course.
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The Hon. REBA MEAGHER: To assist interested parties in providing a comment on the Adoption Act 2000 legislative review, an Issues Paper was released in April 2006. A large number of submissions have been received by the Department of Community Services.
There is a long standing policy that unmarried people can apply to adopt a child in NSW. There are no plans to change this policy, however all people with an interest in the matter are entitled to make submissions to the review process and have their positions considered.
The adoption legislation emphasises that the best interests of the child are paramount when considering an adoption placement for a child. I am advised that this fundamental objective will be upheld in the conclusions and recommendations of the final report.
