Babies for the deserving: developments in foster care and adoption in one Australian state - others to follow?

Abstract

While this paper focuses on recent amendments to the New South Wales (NSW) care and protection and adoption legislation, it is the view of the authors that the 2006 changes, and recently announced new policy directions, may have implications for other States and Territories. Indeed, given the tendency of States and Territories to copy each other’s child care and protection and adoption legislation and policy, the question is who will be the first to follow the NSW lead? At the time of writing Queensland has announced a review of adopted people’s and birth parents’ rights (Department of Child Safety, 2008). In relation to these developments, the big question is whether the NSW proposals are a leap forward or perhaps a leap backward?