Will Victoria pass non-disciminatory adoption laws?
Currently half of Australia by jurisdiction, and greater than half of the Australian population, is subject to laws that prevent same sex couples from adopting children. Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson has called for the repeal of the laws. The discriminatory laws are in: Victoria, Queensland, the Northern Territory and South Australia.
The proposed change in Victoria will bring Victoria into line with those places that do not discrimination on the basis of sexuality in adoption: New South Wales, the ACT, Tasmania and Western Australia. Despite the statements of the Chicken Little’s of the world, the sky has not fallen in those places when they legislated to allow adoption by same sex couples. Queensland has also pledged to remove this discrimination and South Australia is reviewing how its laws discriminate against same sex couples.
The irony of the discrimination is that everywhere in Australia same sex couples are accepted as foster carers. If they are good enough to care for our most troubled and vulnerable children, why can’t they be allowed to adopt?
When I say fingers crossed, I understand that the numbers in the Upper House are finely balanced, and the vote could go either way.
