Page 1941 - Week 07 - Thursday, 13 August 2020
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situation in this territory, where child removal is something these Canberrans experience at a rate far higher than anyone else.
The consensus of most stakeholders is that the changes introduced by this amendment bill are a step in the right direction. But many different concerns remain, and we understand that adjustments may need to be made in the future. It is specifically for this reason that I am tabling an amendment to this bill today. The clear message that I have heard is that the changes introduced by this bill need to be carefully monitored to make sure that they are working as intended and not introducing unexpected or undesirable outcomes.
My amendment therefore specifies that, two years after these changes come into effect, the minister will review how the best interest and dispensing with consent provisions are working, and report back to the Assembly. This minor addition to the amendment bill will provide an assurance to those who are not 100 per cent comfortable, now, that their concerns have been heard and will be formally followed up on. It is important that we provide this guarantee. I am grateful that both Labor and the Greens have chosen to support this amendment as a demonstration of tripartisan support.
Lastly, I wish to note that this bill also makes it easier for adult adoptions to occur by providing a more generous definition of a care-giving relationship and by allowing such a matter to proceed, even if only one applicant is a resident in the ACT. These are positive changes. It means that in some circumstances, where there have been insurmountable obstacles to adoption, adults who wish to do so, can legally establish who their primary family is. I commend both this bill and the amendment to the Assembly.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (11.43): I am pleased to stand and talk about changes to the adoption bill today. It is something that I have been quite passionate about for some time. Indeed, during the last Assembly, when I was shadow minister for family and community services, I brought a series of motions to the Assembly on this very matter, which is why I have risen to speak today.
In reviewing what I said in 2015 and 2016 about adoption and adoption processes in the ACT, I was interested to see how much the Assembly has changed in its makeup. The day I brought a motion to the Assembly in 2016 was the day after Mr Val Jeffery had given his inaugural speech in the Assembly. Mr Smyth had recently left. We had Ms Fitzharris, Mr Doszpot, Dr Bourke and Mr Hinder in the Assembly. Those people have, of course, left us for a range of reasons in the interim.
When I brought this series of motions to the Assembly in 2015 and 2016, it was about securing permanency for children and young people where it is in their best interests. Generally that is because stability and permanency is pivotal to the development of children. Adoption can provide elements of permanency, including a sense of belonging and security in being connected to a family for life; the physical space called family and community; as well as the legal framework that secures both of these with parental responsibility.
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