New adoption laws to come into effect
DAVID BARBELER
January 28, 2010 - 6:34PM AAP
New adoption laws coming into effect from Monday will allow more than 3,000 Queenslanders to view information they were previously banned from seeing.
However, according to adoption campaigners, the changes are a "band-aid solution to a broken leg", as adoptees who view the documents first must sign a waiver saying they will not contact their parents, or hold the government responsible for any past decisions.
Under the new laws, which will come into force on February 1, adopted people and birth parents will have the right to identifying information regardless of when the adoption took place.
Acting Child Safety Minister Karen Struthers said the Adoption Act would mark the most significant reform of Queensland's adoption laws in more than 45 years.
"The new laws balance peoples' right to information about their birth parents or son or daughter who was adopted, with the right of others to maintain their privacy," she said.
"More than 3,000 Queenslanders affected by an adoption that occurred before 1991 are prevented from obtaining identifying information about their birth parents or son or daughter who was adopted.
"The new Act will give these people the right to access information about their own identity or that of a son or daughter for the first time."
Jigsaw Queensland president Dr Trevor Jordan said he supported the changes, saying it will be a new era for adoption in Queensland.
"Currently just under 10 people a week apply for information about their birth relatives," he said.
"We support the new legislation, where people can still express a preference for no contact, but can't prevent a person from getting information."
However adoption campaigner Mick Gray says while being able to access information such as medical records will be beneficial the laws "still have a long way to go".
Mr Gray, 35, who is an adoptee himself, says the Act will still prevent him from locating his sister because his mother signed a veto to contact.
"To see the documents you've basically got to sign a waiver," he said.
"They are still treating us like second-class citizens. It's a natural birthright to know who we are.
"It makes the adoptee feel shameful."
New adoption laws coming into effect from Monday will allow more than 3,000 Queenslanders to view information they were previously banned from seeing.
However, according to adoption campaigners, the changes are a "band-aid solution to a broken leg", as adoptees who view the documents first must sign a waiver saying they will not contact their parents, or hold the government responsible for any past decisions.
Under the new laws, which will come into force on February 1, adopted people and birth parents will have the right to identifying information regardless of when the adoption took place.
Acting Child Safety Minister Karen Struthers said the Adoption Act would mark the most significant reform of Queensland's adoption laws in more than 45 years.
"The new laws balance peoples' right to information about their birth parents or son or daughter who was adopted, with the right of others to maintain their privacy," she said.
"More than 3,000 Queenslanders affected by an adoption that occurred before 1991 are prevented from obtaining identifying information about their birth parents or son or daughter who was adopted.
"The new Act will give these people the right to access information about their own identity or that of a son or daughter for the first time."
Jigsaw Queensland president Dr Trevor Jordan said he supported the changes, saying it will be a new era for adoption in Queensland.
"Currently just under 10 people a week apply for information about their birth relatives," he said.
"We support the new legislation, where people can still express a preference for no contact, but can't prevent a person from getting information."
However adoption campaigner Mick Gray says while being able to access information such as medical records will be beneficial the laws "still have a long way to go".
Mr Gray, 35, who is an adoptee himself, says the Act will still prevent him from locating his sister because his mother signed a veto to contact.
"To see the documents you've basically got to sign a waiver," he said.
"They are still treating us like second-class citizens. It's a natural birthright to know who we are.
"It makes the adoptee feel shameful."
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