Families wanting to adopt children from Taiwan and South Korea will find it easier from today.
In the first step in significant reform to Australia’s overseas adoption laws Prime Minister Tony Abbott has moved swiftly to introduce changes that are estimated to automatically help up to 30 families.
Until now, families who received an adoption compliance certificate from a Hague Convention country automatically had their adoption recognised under Australian law.
But families adopting from Taiwan and South Korea needed to obtain another adoption order in Australia.
Now adoption orders in Taiwan and South Korea will be automatically recognised.
Catherine McDonnell, John O’Neill and Helen McCabe with Tony Abbott.
Catherine McDonnell, John O’Neill and Helen McCabe with Tony Abbott.
Catherine McDonnell, John O’Neill and Helen McCabe with Tony Abbott.
The change is in response to Mr Abbott’s commitment to make it easier, cheaper and faster for families to adopt children from overseas while still meeting all necessary compliance requirements.
A committee set up to reform the sector is due to report later in the month but it is understood Mr Abbott did not think it was necessary to wait any longer in streamlining the process for couples seeking children from Taiwan and South Korea.
“I congratulate the Prime Minister on this announcement today, and I am particularly happy for the many families who will be directly affected by this immediate action,” National Adoption Awareness Week spokeswoman Deborra-Lee Furness said. “We have been calling for change for a long time, and I am absolutely thrilled to see the Prime Minister’s office committing to real action.”
It is expected the change will significantly reduce the time it takes to finalise adoptions from these countries.
In addition the Abbott Government has also looked at the controversial closure of the Ethiopian programme.
At the time of its closure there were a number of families who are awaiting the finalisation of their adoption.
These new laws will allow these adoptions to also be automatically recognised in Australia.
The committee’s report will help to inform discussion at the next COAG meeting.
Families who believe they might be affected by these changes are being encouraged to contact their state or territory for more information.
Helen McCabe is on the board of National Adoption Awareness Week.
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