Page 770 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 24 March 1993
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Clause 56
MS ELLIS (4.17), by leave: I move:
Page 26, paragraph (1)(a), line 19, omit "another country", substitute "the Territory or elsewhere".
Page 26, paragraph (1)(b), line 23, add at the end of the paragraph "and".
Page 26, paragraph (1)(c), lines 24 to 26, omit the paragraph.
Page 26, subclause (1), line 28, omit "supervise the welfare and interests of the child", substitute "promote the welfare and interests of the child by providing support".
Page 26, subclause (1), line 29, omit all words after "months", substitute -
"commencing on -
(d) if the child was adopted in the Territory - the date of the adoption; or
(e) if the child arrived in the Territory after having been adopted - the date of the arrival;
and any person authorised in writing by the Director for that purpose has a right of access to the child during that period -
(f) at times agreed between that person and the adoptive parents; or
(g) in the absence of such agreement - at times specified by the Minister by notice in writing given to the adoptive parents.".
I refer briefly to the specific mention of foreign children. Given the change to this clause, it is no longer believed to be necessary to have such a reference in this part of clause 56.
MS SZUTY (4.18): Madam Speaker, I would like to comment on two issues that are inherent in the amendments proposed by Ms Ellis. The first concerns the issue of supervision requirements and support requirements being the same for all adopted children. Again, it is a question of the adoption process being seen to be fair by everyone who comes into contact with this Act. Supervision and support visits should be available for all adopted children, as they need to adjust to differing family environments post their adoption placement.
I should also address the question of access to children by the director of welfare and her officers at mutually agreed times. I believe that this provision is extremely important, and the committee discussed it at length in its deliberations. Again, the emphasis is on a cooperative approach by both adoptive parents and welfare authorities. It is acknowledged that at most times welfare would set up a time to visit the family, via a phone call in most circumstances or possibly a letter.
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