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Adoption push welcomed

By on October 13, 2011

The Rainbow Families Council of Victoria has welcomed a Victorian Labor Party move to endorse same-sex couple adoption rights.

The party’s state conference at the weekend also passed a motion calling for same-sex marriage.

Rainbow Families Council co-convenor Brian Barry told the Star Observer changing Victoria’s adoption laws is a “pivotal plank” in improving the legal rights of rainbow families.

“It’s terrific to see this issue gaining profile because it’s a really necessary change and it’s one that doesn’t get much notice,” Barry said.

“It’s as straightforward as a level playing field in terms of recognition of what constitutes a family.”

Barry also welcomed the party’s support of same-sex marriage, saying change would break down “institutionalised homophobia”.

The motion calling for Victoria to allow same-sex adoption was moved by Albert Park MP Martin Foley who said it’s time Victoria overturns its ban in line with recommendations made by the Victorian Law Reform Commission in 2007.

“Adoption was one of the remaining areas left out of the 2009 ART [Assisted Reproductive Technology] changes where a large bulk of these recommendations were put in place,” Foley told the Star Observer.

“There are so many anomalies and injustices. That GLBTI people can foster care in this state and not adopt simply makes no sense. Reform is needed.”

Victorian Rainbow Labor executive member Wil Stracke said the group supported the adoption motion, however, its full focus is on the party’s December national conference and the push for marriage.

“The fact that so many state and territory ALP conferences now have supported marriage equality, we hope that will generate some momentum leading into the national conference,” Stracke told the Star Observer.

“Rainbow Labor Victoria’s done a lot of work in the last few months to talk to rank-and-file members on the issue, why we think it’s important and answered questions and dealt with some of the misconceptions.

“[Marriage equality has] been so strongly supported at all of the state levels, we’d say that’s a good sign for the ALP and grassroots support … and we think that change should be reflected in the national platform.”

More than 50 Victorian branches of the party have endorsed marriage equality.

The Victorian Labor Party passed a similar motion for marriage equality in 2009. Another motion failed to get support earlier this year as there were not enough members on the floor to pass it.

All state Labor branches have now given the green light to amend the Marriage Act to allow same-sex marriage, except NSW, which has deferred debate until Labor’s national conference in December.

About Andie Noonan

4 Comments

  1. NIMBR (Not In My Bed Room)

    October 13, 2011 at 5:40 pm


    Got to state my view.

    While I oppose SSPs generally, I have no real objection to homosexual people having foster care rights.

    Just do not like kids being purposely born into it from the start.

  2. Deanne

    October 13, 2011 at 8:03 pm


    NIMBR, is that because you don’t approve of anyone having babies because the planet’s bulging at the seams or is there another reason?

  3. cazza

    October 13, 2011 at 10:08 pm


    That’s fantastic! I don’t really believe in IVF so I’m glad there is now a ‘forever’ alternative for people!

    “Victorian Rainbow Labor executive member Wil Stracke said the group supported the adoption motion, however, its full focus is on the party’s December national conference and the push for marriage.”
    What a wanker! in other words, i don’t actually give a shit about the rights that will actually make a difference, just those that include me having a party!

  4. Peter

    October 14, 2011 at 3:01 pm


    Useless exercise in futility since there won’t be another election in Victoria for 3 years. What does the Labor Party intend to do between now and then?

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