THE body charged with overseeing a review of Victoria’s adoption laws will be visiting Bendigo to hear the views of the community.
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The Victorian Law Reform Commission will conduct private meetings on Tuesday as part of its review into the Adoption Act.
“Due to the sensitivity of this issue, we are holding private consultations rather than public meetings,” commission chairman Philip Cummins said.
The focus of the review will be the overarching principle guiding adoption laws in Victoria, which states the interests, rights and welfare of the child are paramount and above the interests of birth parents, adoptive parents and those wanting to adopt.
As well as ensuring the best interests of the child are of greatest importance under the legislation, the review will also confirm it is consistent with contemporary law, operates in harmony with other relevant areas of law and is structurally sound.
Through the review, the commission will provide recommendations to the state government on how the law can be changed for the benefit of children and families.
“Community attitudes and contemporary law in relation to family have changed, and the Adoption Act needs to better reflect the reality of today,” Mr Cummins said.
The review will consider such issues as the best interests and rights of children, eligibility to adopt and the adoption process, access to adoption information, and the birth certificates of adopted people.
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According to the review’s consultation paper, intercountry adoption and commercial surrogacy will not be considered by the commission because these would be more appropriately investigated at a national level.
Same-sex adoption will also not be included in the review because legislation that provides for this will come into effect in September.
Contact statements have been removed and will also not be considered.
Adoption laws that predate the current Adoption Act also fall outside the scope of the review.
The report and recommendations will be presented to the Attorney-General by February 28 next year.
The Adoption Act was the first piece of legislation in Australia to introduce open adoption, allowing contact between birth and adoptive parents.
Adoption numbers have fallen from almost 9800 adoptions nationally in 1971-72 to 56 local adoptions in 2014–15, of which 24 were in Victoria.
To express interest in having a private meeting with the commission, email law.reform@lawreform.vic.gov.au or call 8608 7800.
For information on making a written submission to the review, visit the Victorian Law Reform Commission website.
