Tony Abbott to make overseas adoption easier for Australians
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Version 0 of 1. Overseas adoption could become easier after prime minister Tony Abbott set in train a review to report in early 2014. State and territory governments are in charge of processing inter-country adoptions, but eligibility requirements widely differ in relation to partner relationship status, age, citizenship and health. There are also federal responsibilities and international treaties which overarch the system. The complexity of the arrangement is putting people off, with figures from 2011-12 showing only 149 children were adopted from other countries by Australian parents. Abbott told a National Adoption Awareness Week function in Sydney on Thursday that he would reform the system, with next April's Council of Australian Governments receiving recommendations. "To be born in Australia is to win the lottery of life and we would like to see more people winning the lottery of life by becoming Australians," he said. Actor Deborra-Lee Furness, who has two adopted children with husband Hugh Jackman, has led an international campaign to make international adoptions easier. She said orphaned and vulnerable children deserved to have a family. "We're going to continue to highlight all the issues around adoption awareness," she told the function. "We have to look after these kids." The premier of New South Wales, Barry O'Farrell, said the state recorded just 78 local adoptions last year and there was a need for more action in this area as well. "We need to fix the issue of local adoptions," he said. "We need to have a national discussion about how all states can come into line, but equally, how the national government can assist in making international adoptions easier as well." State family and community services minister Pru Goward said adoption could improve lives. "For too long open adoption has been a dirty word when we know it can provide better outcomes for vulnerable children rather than foster care until the child is 18," she said.' "How can we hope to break the cycle of intergenerational disadvantage if we do not begin by giving each of these children a safe and loving home for life?" A committee of senior public servants will report to Abbott in March on ways to streamline the system. Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |