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| Martin Foley |
The ALP platform says the party will ‘‘remove discrimination against children of same-sex couples and their parents, in relation to both ‘known-parent’ adoption (where an existing relationship exists between child and adoptive parent), adoption, and adoption in general".
Same-sex couples are a step closer to being able to adopt children in Victoria after state Labor voted in favour of changing the law, paving the way for a historic shift if Daniel Andrews wins this year’s election.
Victorian MPs and delegates at Labor's state conference on Saturday unanimously endorsed a platform legalising gay adoption, which would bring Victoria into line with NSW, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT.
At present, gay couples in this state can be appointed as foster parents or guardians, but do not have the right to adopt a child together – even if that child has been in their care for years.
Changing the law would fix this anomaly, as well as tackle other inequalities, such as the inability of a step-parent to adopt their partner's child, or the inability of a gay couple to jointly adopt a child conceived through IVF.
Martin Foley, Labor’s spokesman on gay and lesbian issues, said the shift was important step in protecting the rights of parents and their children – ‘‘however they come together".
‘‘From this principled position Victorian Labor Party has today taken a stand to defend the rights of the many types of rainbow families and their growing number of children who live under discriminatory laws today in our community,’’ Mr Foley said.
The ALP platform sets out the principles that will form the basis of policies adopted by the parliamentary team. But insiders regarded the move towards same-sex adoption as a significant breakthrough, particularly after years of failing to act on the issue.
In 2007, for instance, the Victorian Law Reform Commission recommended that gay couples be permitted to adopt children, as part of its major report on assisted reproductive technology.
The Brumby Government accepted the commission’s recommendations on IVF, surrogacy and greater parenting recognition, but stopped short of legalising adoption for same-sex couples.
Gay groups said the change was a long time coming.
"It's time to ensure that all Victorian families have an enduring legal relationship, even those families headed by same-sex couples," said Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby co-convenor Corey Irlam.
Labor policy committee member Jaala Pulford said Saturday's vote was "the result of years of work" to stamp out discrimination against the gay and lesbian community.
The ALP platform says the party will ‘‘remove discrimination against children of same-sex couples and their parents, in relation to both ‘known-parent’ adoption (where an existing relationship exists between child and adoptive parent), adoption, and adoption in general".
Read more at The Age
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