Page 691 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 23 March 1993
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In addition to the question of whether homosexual couples should adopt children, I raised in my additional comments to the committee's report a number of issues concerning the adoption process. I do not wish to reiterate them now as I am sure that members will have read them along with the committee's report.
Debate interrupted.
ADJOURNMENT
MADAM SPEAKER: Ms Szuty, it is 9.30, so I have to interrupt you and propose the question:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Mr Berry: I require that the question be put forthwith without debate.
Question resolved in the negative.
SOCIAL POLICY - STANDING COMMITTEE
Report on Adoption Bill
Debate resumed.
MS SZUTY: Madam Speaker, it remains for me to thank the many people who forwarded submissions and who appeared at the public hearing and to thank my colleagues on the Social Policy Committee - Ms Ellis as presiding member, Mrs Carnell, Mr Cornwell and Mrs Grassby - for their constructive and positive attitude to the consideration of the issues raised in the Adoption Bill. I also wish to thank the committee secretary - Mr Greg McIntosh - Ms Vicki Salkin and Ms Karen Pearce for their work during the inquiry and in finalising the report.
MR CORNWELL (9.31): Madam Speaker, I rise briefly to make some introductory comments in relation to the report. I am aware that the matter will be debated in more depth at some later time. There are two points I would like to canvass. First of all, I believe that this side of the house and the Independents must make some response to the chairman's statement that we have wasted three months in the examination of this legislation. I think the evidence in this report speaks for itself, Madam Speaker. There are six recommendations, Ms Ellis, which would indicate that the committee did believe that the Adoption Bill, as it stood, was at least in need of some improvement - to the extent perhaps of six recommendations. I am doubtful whether those six recommendations could have been put forward and successfully debated on the floor of this house. I think that the issues - and members of the committee would be aware of this - were of such complexity that the forms of this Assembly would not have allowed a proper debate, a detailed debate, and the opportunity to question and obtain answers, as would have been necessary, in relation to all six of these recommendations.
I think it is also important that this Government realise that it is a minority government, and it simply should not expect to be able to push through any piece of legislation that it brings into this chamber when it feels like it. The Adoption Bill 1992 is evidence of that - - -
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