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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
New South Wales
Adoption Amendment (Same Sex
Couples) Bill 2010
Contents
Page
1 Name of Act 2
2 Commencement 2
Schedule 1 Amendment of Adoption Act 2000 No 75 3
Schedule 2 Amendment of other legislation 5
I certify that this public bill, which originated in the Legislative Assembly, has
finally passed the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of New
South Wales.
Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.
Legislative Assembly,
Sydney, , 2010
New South Wales
Adoption Amendment (Same Sex
Couples) Bill 2010
Act No , 2010
An Act to amend the Adoption Act 2000 to enable couples of the same sex to adopt
children and to make related amendments to the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 and
certain other legislation.
I have examined this bill and find it to correspond in all respects with the bill as
finally passed by both Houses.
Assistant Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Clause 1 Adoption Amendment (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2010
The Legislature of New South Wales enacts:
1 Name of Act
This Act is the Adoption Amendment (Same Sex Couples) Act 2010.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on the date of assent to this Act.
Page 2
Adoption Amendment (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2010
Amendment of Adoption Act 2000 No 75 Schedule 1
Schedule 1 Amendment of Adoption Act 2000 No 75
[1] Section 23 Jurisdiction
Omit the note at the end of section 23 (1). Insert instead:
Note. Couple is defined in the Dictionary to mean 2 persons who are
married to each other or who are de facto partners of each other
(de facto partner is defined in section 21C (1) of the Interpretation Act
1987 and refers to persons whether of the same sex or a different sex).
The effect of the making of an adoption order is described in Part 11 of
this Chapter.
[2] Sections 45A and 45B
Insert after section 45:
45A Background information about prospective adoptive parents to be
made available to birth parents
(1) If an application to adopt a child is made by a couple, background
information relating to the couple that is obtained by the
Director-General or principal officer in connection with the
application is, at the request of the birth parents of the child, to be
provided to the birth parents before any adoption order may be
made in relation to that child.
(2) In this section, background information relating to a couple
includes information about the couple's social and cultural
background, religious beliefs, domestic relationship and living
arrangements, but does not include any information that
identifies the couple.
45B Consideration of wishes of parents consenting to adoption
(1) A general consent of the parent of a child to the adoption of the
child, as referred to in section 53, may express the wishes of the
parent as to the preferred background, beliefs or domestic
relationship of any prospective adoptive parents of the child.
(2) Nothing in the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 prevents the
Director-General or a principal officer of an adoption service
provider from identifying (consistently with the best interests of
the child) prospective adoptive parents who reflect those wishes
in the adoption selection process under this Part.
[3] Section 137 Access to adoption information by relatives and others after
death of adopted person or birth parent
Omit section 137 (6).
Page 3
Adoption Amendment (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2010
Schedule 1 Amendment of Adoption Act 2000 No 75
[4] Dictionary, definition of "couple"
Omit the definition. Insert instead:
couple means 2 persons who:
(a) are married to each other, or
(b) are de facto partners of each other.
Note. Married is defined elsewhere in this Dictionary and de facto
partner is defined in section 21C (1) of the Interpretation Act 1987 as
follows:
For the purposes of any Act or instrument, a person is the de facto
partner of another person (whether of the same sex or a different sex) if:
(a) the person is in a registered relationship or interstate registered
relationship with the other person within the meaning of the
Relationships Register Act 2010, or
(b) the person is in a de facto relationship with the other person.
[5] Dictionary, definition of "de facto relationship"
Omit the definition.
[6] Dictionary, definition of "spouse"
Omit the definition. Insert instead:
spouse of a person means:
(a) a person to whom the person is married, or
(b) the person's de facto partner.
Note. Married is defined elsewhere in this Dictionary and de facto
partner is defined in section 21C (1) of the Interpretation Act 1987.
[7] Dictionary, definition of "step parent"
Omit the definition. Insert instead:
step parent means, in relation to a particular person, another
person who:
(a) is not a birth parent or adoptive parent of the particular
person, and
(b) is married to the particular person's birth parent or
adoptive parent or is the de facto partner of the birth parent
or adoptive parent.
Note. Married is defined elsewhere in this Dictionary and de facto
partner is defined in section 21C (1) of the Interpretation Act 1987.
Page 4
Adoption Amendment (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2010
Amendment of other legislation Schedule 2
Schedule 2 Amendment of other legislation
2.1 Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 No 48
Section 59A
Insert after section 59:
59A Adoption services
(1) Nothing in Part 3A or 4C affects any policy or practice of a
faith-based organisation concerning the provision of adoption
services under the Adoption Act 2000 or anything done to give
effect to any such policy or practice.
Note. Section 8 (1) (a) of the Adoption Act 2000 requires decision
makers to follow the principle that, in making a decision about the
adoption of a child, the best interests of the child, both in childhood and
in later life, must be the paramount consideration.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to discrimination against any child
who is or may be adopted.
(3) In this section, faith-based organisation means an organisation
that is established or controlled by a religious organisation and
that is accredited under the Adoption Act 2000 to provide
adoption services.
2.2 Adoption Regulation 2003
Clause 43 Prescribed particulars and information
Omit clause 43 (1) (b) (iv)-(ix). Insert instead:
(iv) the full name of the child's adoptive parent or
parents (including, if applicable, the original
surname of the child's adoptive mother),
(v) the occupation of the child's adoptive parent or
parents,
(vi) the age and place of birth of the child's adoptive
parent or parents,
2.3 Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Regulation 2006
Clause 6 Registration of adoptions
Omit clause 6 (b)-(e). Insert instead:
(b) the full name of the child's adoptive parent or parents
(including, if applicable, the original surname of the
child's adoptive mother),
Page 5
Adoption Amendment (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2010
Schedule 2 Amendment of other legislation
(c) the occupation and usual place of residence of the child's
adoptive parent or parents,
(d) the date of birth (or age) and place of birth of the child's
adoptive parent or parents,
Page 6
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