Ministers conscious about adoption

By Alice Blain

The decision to allow a conscience vote on same sex adoption will be crucial in determining the NSW Government’s position on the issue, says Independent MP Clover Moore.

Premier, Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader, Barry O’Farrell announced that they will both allow a conscience vote on a private member’s bill which would allow same-sex couples to adopt children.

MP Moore who introduced the bill in State Parliament last week, says that members will finally be able to de-align themselves and represent their communities on the issue:

“When you have a conscience vote members actually have to think about it, they have to give a speech about what they really believe and they have to vote accordingly.

I am horrified that so many members of the political parties go into the house every day and put their hand up and don’t know what they are voting for.”

Currently in NSW, same sex couples cannot adopt a child together – one parent must adopt as an individual and the other has no legal standing as the co-parent.

MP Moore says the law should be changed to protect children’s rights and support all loving families:

“If one of the parents died and that was the person who was registered as the parent then that child loses his or her security.

“This bill is really important because it puts the interest of the child first and foremost, ahead of discrimination and prejudice.”

“It’s not a radical proposal, it’s a humane, just and fair proposal that brings gay and lesbian couples in line with heterosexual couples in terms of adoption,” she says.

Speaking in her role as Lord Mayor of Sydney, MP Moore says the proposed bill would be particularly important in the inner city suburbs of Sydney where there are high numbers of same sex couples.

NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) Policy and Development Coordinator, Senthorun Raj, says a conscience vote may be the answer to ending the last piece of direct legislative discrimination against same-sex couples in NSW.

“The NSW GLRL are pleased that both parties have agreed to a conscience vote on this issue.

“We hope that all parliamentarians will vote in the best interests of children so we can put an end to what has been a very inconsistent approach to parenting in NSW,” he said.

Mr Raj says the bill would not only have historical relevance for the gay and lesbian community but would also be of vital importance to children.

“By recognising same-sex families and allowing these couples to adopt and be legal parents you’ll be providing children with certainty and security around their welfare and care,” he says.

The proposed Bill has gained support from Barnardos’ CEO, Louise Voigt, who currently have 8% of the children they deal with being fostered by same-sex couples.

“Our experience plus all the research shows that they [same sex couples] provide excellent families.

“It’s not a concern about a person’s sexuality, it’s about a person’s capacity to care for kids.”

Anglicare were approached but refused to comment on the issue.

The Bill is set to be debated when State Parliament resumes in late August.