The Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSW) has welcomed the announcement of a NSW inquiry into same-sex adoption. The Inquiry will be conducted by the NSW Legislative Council Standing Committee on Law & Justice.

“Despite significant reforms over the last ten years, the Adoption Act remains the last piece of NSW law which discriminates against same-sex couples,” said Peter Johnson, Spokesperson for the GLRL. 

“New South Wales is in the ludicrous position of allowing individual lesbians and gay men to be assessed for adoption eligibility, but not same-sex couples. This discrimination hurts children by denying legal and social recognition to lesbian and gay parents.” 

Adoption reform would ensure that children in gay and lesbian families not covered by recent parenting reforms could have two legally-recognised parents for the purposes of medical consent, inheritance and parental authority.  

“Adoption reform is essential for long-term foster carers and some step-parents and co-parents. Adoption would give children the economic and emotional stability which comes with the recognition of their families,” added Johnson. 

“Adoption reform may also open limited opportunities for lesbians and gay men wanting to create new families. However, very few children are available for adoption in Australia and international adoption is not currently available to same-sex couples due to the laws of overseas ‘sending’ countries.”

Various law reform reports since 1997, including by the NSW Law Reform Commission and the Australian Human Rights Commission, have recommended these adoption reforms.