Monday, December 27, 2010

[Australian - New South Wales] - NineMSN - "No need to change foster laws: O'Farrell"

 

Gay couples are able to legally adopt children in NSW so there's no need to review NSW's anti-discrimination laws, says Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell.

His comments follow a ruling in favour of a religious organisation which refused to foster children to same-sex parents.

The NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal earlier this month found in favour of Wesley Mission Australia, which wouldn't allow a gay couple to become foster parents.

But the tribunal suggested parliament may wish to review the Anti-Discrimination Act, which it based its decision on.

Mr O'Farrell on Monday said there was no need to review the laws as the same-sex adoption bill had been passed in September.

"The concern with this decision would have been if the only adoption services in NSW were faith-based," Mr O'Farrell told AAP on Monday.

"But because there is choice, because if you're a same-sex couple you can ... seek to adopt a child, I don't think it's a big concern."

Under the new adoption legislation, church adoption agencies were granted the right to refuse to provide services to gay and lesbian couples without breaching anti-discrimination laws.

[Source: Original Article]

 

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