Stop stalling on adoption

Stop stalling on adoption

Earlier this year, the GLRL made a submission to, and gave oral evidence at, the NSW Adoption Inquiry.

The GLRL has been lobbying for many years for adoption laws to recognise same-sex couples. Leading up to the Inquiry, the NSW Government told us we should hang ten on same-sex adoption reform -” that the Government would await the results of the Inquiry.

The Inquiry was in February. It’s now three months later and we are being told to wait again. This time, we are being told to wait for the results of the same-sex foster care case recently heard on appeal by the Administrative Decisions Tribunal (ADT).

The ADT case relates to whether or not religious organisations should be given an exemption under the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act when it comes to the eligibility of same-sex foster carers. Same-sex couples can already become foster carers in NSW.

The Adoption Inquiry relates to whether same-sex couples in NSW should be able to adopt.

The Lobby’s position on religious exemptions is clear -” no organisation, religious or not, should operate outside the law. The purpose of anti-discrimination law is to ensure all people are treated as equals. No ifs, no buts.

All organisations providing adoption or foster care services should be required to treat same-sex couples equally to heterosexual couples.

The Government asks us to wait again, and yet the decision of the ADT could be six months or more away. Furthermore, the Attorney-General claims he did not intervene in the case to support either side.

The Attorney-General intervened in support of religious exemptions being inscribed in anti-discrimination law when it comes to the treatment of same-sex couples in NSW.

The NSW Government needs to deliver on its undertaking to the community and release the Adoption Inquiry report. If the report incorporates the Lobby’s recommendations, same-sex couples will finally be treated equally under adoption laws.

Too many children in our community are missing out on legal parents to be trumped by the Government’s cowardice and stalling.

Emily Gray is co-convenor of the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.

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2 responses to “Stop stalling on adoption”

  1. The Constitution of the GLRL REQUIRES that one male and one female co-convenor be elected. The organisation cannot operate legally without having a person in each position. The last time the GLRL violated this basic rule of their organisation the number of members of the committee fell below quorum numbers. Any and all actions of the GLRL when the organisation improperly constituted is questionable and the individual members of the committee might be held liable for the actions. GLRL is far too important to our communities to operate outside its own constitution.

  2. Please bring back Pete. He is so sexy, smart and had great view points. A man is also needed..