Ban on Overseas Gay Adoptions

Ban on Overseas Gay Adoptions

The Government advised Senators that it intended to put before the Senate the Family Law (Same Sex Adoption) Bill, the purpose of which was “to amend the Family Law Act 1975 to indicate that adoptions by same sex couples of children from overseas under either bilateral or multilateral arrangements will not be recognised in Australia.”

Both Senator Andrew Bartlett, leader of the Australian Democrats and Rodney Croome, well known gay activist, have expressed their concerns about the proposed Bill, the text of which has not yet become available.

Senator Bartlett’s blog
Rodney Croome’s blog

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Starting July 1, 2025, groundbreaking changes to New South Wales law will significantly affect families involved in overseas surrogacy arrangements. These changes empower the NSW Supreme Court to issue parentage orders for children born through commercial surrogacy overseas—a legal pathway previously unavailable.

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Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board