Lower House MPs back same-sex adoption bill
From: AAP September 02, 2010 1:01PM
NSW LOWER house MPs have voted in support of a bill to allow same-sex couples to adopt children. After two days of debate in the Legislative Assembly, 46 MPs voted in favour of the bill, while 44 voted against it.
The bill, introduced by independent Sydney MP Clover Moore, would allow same-sex couples to adopt a child together. Reintroducing the bill on Wednesday, Ms Moore included an amendment that gives church adoption agencies the right to refuse services to same-sex couples without breaching anti-discrimination laws.
Premier Kristina Keneally, Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell and Nationals leader Andrew Stoner had allowed the MPs a conscience vote on the contentious issue. Ms Keneally and Mr O’Farrell both supported the bill, while Mr Stoner indicated he would not back it.
The bill will now go to the upper house, where it will again be debated.
Earlier today Mr O’Farrell spoke in support of the bill, saying the current system is discriminatory. Speaking during a debate in parliament this morning, the Opposition leader said he supported the bill, introduced by independent MP Clover Moore. However, he added the issue was a matter of gay rights but of removing discrimination in the adoption act in the best interests of children.
“I support this measure today ... for the sake of children but also because I don’t believe our society should exclude because of gender, sexuality, faith, background or some other factor, people who have a contribution they can make,” he said. “That’s not the free and confident society I seek.”
The same-sex adoption bill was reintroduced on Wednesday by Ms Moore to include amendments, which give church adoption agencies the right to refuse services to same-sex couples without breaching anti-discrimination laws.
Mr O’Farrell said he supported the amendments. “I support the right of faith-based adoption agencies to be able to reflect their teachings,” he said. Speaking to the lower house on Wednesday night, Premier Kristina Keneally also backed the changes.
“In forming my position on this bill, I have considered my experiences as a mother, my responsibilities as a parliamentarian, and my conscience as a Christian and member of the Catholic faith,” Ms Keneally said.
Mr O’Farrell admitted the debate had been a difficult one and said he believed the ideal setting for bringing up a child was with a loving mother and father. However, he said heterosexual couples were not the only family type in the community.
“Like many other speakers I believe that the ideal setting to bring up a child is a loving and stable family environment with both a mother and a father present,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“It is the environment in which most of us, if not all in this place, have been raised. It is the ideal and not the only family type that exists in our community - there are many others from which young people emerge confidently and capable of making their contribution to our community.
“The question for those of us concerned about the interests of the child in this debate is why should certain couples, because of sexual preference, not be eligible to be assessed according to laws and regulations that by any measure place child wellbeing at the centre of decision-making.”
Opposition health spokeswoman and deputy Liberal leader Jillian Skinner said she supported the bill but it had been a difficult decision.
Ms Skinner said she felt she was grateful that she, her children and grandchildren were in the position to be brought up in loving families. “However, to suggest the only place for a child to be nurtured and cared for is in a house with a mum and dad is not right,” she told parliament.
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