Economy
Passage of Tas gay adoption law applauded
Reform upholds best interests of children and removes last vestige of discrimination from Tas law
“Today is a proud day for Tasmania because we have removed the very last vestige of discrimination against same-sex couples in existing state law.” – Rodney Croome
Tasmanian gay rights advocates have welcomed the passage of a law allowing same-sex couples to adopt.
Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,
“This reform is in the best interests of children because it will allow a child currently being fostered by a same-sex couple to be adopted by their foster parents when it is in that child’s best interest.”
“It also removes legally-entrenched prejudice against all Tasmanian same-sex couples with children.”
“Today is a proud day for Tasmania because we have removed the very last vestige of discrimination against same-sex couples in existing state law.”
The State Government Bill was passed in the Upper House by ten votes to three with the support of Liberal members and rural independents.
Three other Australian states and territories allow same-sex adoption: Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales.
Tasmania has allowed same-sex step-parent adoption since 2003, the legal recognition of non-biological same-sex parents since 2009 and same-sex surrogacy since 2012.
Tasmania was the last Australian state to decriminalise homosexuality in 1997 but the first state to establish a civil union scheme in 2003 and the first state to move towards marriage equality last year.
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