ADOPTION ACT 1988 - SECT 11

ADOPTION ACT 1988 - SECT 11

11—Adoption of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child

        (1)         The Court will not make an adoption order in relation to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child unless satisfied that adoption is in the best interests of the child and, taking into account the rights and welfare of the child, clearly preferable to any alternative order that may be made under the laws of the State or the Commonwealth.

        (1a)         The Court must, before determining whether to make an order for the adoption of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child, consider—

            (a)         a report from the Chief Executive setting out consultation that has occurred with a recognised Aboriginal organisation or recognised Torres Strait Islander organisation (as the case requires); and

            (b)         any submissions made by or on behalf of a recognised Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisation consulted in relation to the child.

        (1b)         In making an order for the adoption of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child, the Court must apply the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.

        (2)         Subject to subsection (3), an order for the adoption of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child will not be made except in favour of a member of the child's Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community who has the correct relationship with the child in accordance with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander customary law or, if there is no such person seeking to adopt the child, some other Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person.

        (3)         An order for the adoption of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child may be made in favour of a person who is not an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person if the Court is satisfied—

            (a)         that there are special circumstances justifying the making of the order; and

            (b)         that the child's cultural identity with the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people will not be lost in consequence of the adoption.

        (4)         For the purposes of this section, a recognised Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisation is an organisation that the Minister, after consulting with—

            (a)         the Aboriginal community or a section of the Aboriginal community; or

            (b)         the Torres Strait Islander community or a section of the Torres Strait Islander community,

(as the case requires) declares by notice in the Gazette to be a recognised Aboriginal organisation, or a recognised Torres Strait Islander organisation.