Source: https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/~/view/act/2000/75/chap6
Timestamp: 2018-01-17 05:01:05
Document Index: 363159587

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art\n41', 'art 3', 'art\n45', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'art 8', 'art 9', 'art 10', 'art 11', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art\n104', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art\n145', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6']

Adoption Act 2000 No 75 - NSW Legislation
Adoption Act 2000 No 75
4 Meaning of “Aboriginal” and “Torres Strait Islander”
Chapter 2 Objects and adoption principles
6 What are the roles of the objects and adoption principles of this Act?
7 What are the objects of this Act?
8 What principles are to be applied by persons making decisions about the adoption of a child?
9 Participation of child in decisions
Chapter 3 Adoption service providers
Part 1 Authority to provide adoption services
10 Adoption services to be provided by or on behalf of Secretary
11 Unauthorised arrangements for adoption
Part 2 Accreditation of adoption service providers
12 Accreditation and review of adoption service providers
13 Accreditation criteria
Part 3 Principal officer of accredited adoption service provider
14 Actions of principal officer taken to be actions of provider
15–21 (Repealed)
Chapter 4 The adoption process
22 Proceedings
23 Jurisdiction
24 Who can be adopted?
25 Previous adoption or marital status immaterial
26 Who can adopt?
27 Adoption by one person
28 Adoption by couple
29 Adoption by relative
30 Adoption by step parent
31 Adoption of non-citizen child
Part 2 Placement of children for adoption
Division 1 Children other than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
32 Regard to be had to cultural heritage of child
Division 2 Aboriginal children
33 Aboriginal participation in decision making
34 Application of Aboriginal child placement principles
35 Aboriginal child placement principles
36 Alternatives to placement for adoption to be considered
Division 3 Torres Strait Islanders
37 Torres Strait Islander participation in decision making
38 Application of Torres Strait Islander child placement principles
39 Torres Strait Islander child placement principles
Division 4 Placement outside Australia
40 Report on child for intercountry adoption
Part 3 Selection of prospective adoptive parents other than authorised carers
41 Application of Part
41A Definitions
42 Expression of interest in adopting a child
43 Application to adopt
44 Form of expression of interest or application
45 Assessment of suitability, and selection, of adoptive parents
45A Background information about prospective adoptive parents to be made available to birth parents
45AA Provision of information
45AB Notification about other residents
45B Consideration of wishes of parents consenting to adoption
Part 3A Selection of authorised carers as adoptive parents
45C Application of Part
45CA Definitions
45D Application to adopt
45E Form of application
45F Assessment of suitability, and selection, of adoptive parents
45G Background information about prospective adoptive parents to be made available to birth parents
45GA Provision of information
45GB Notification about other residents
45H Consideration of wishes of parents consenting to adoption
Part 4 Adoption plans
46 What is an adoption plan?
47 How is an adoption plan made?
48 Adoption plan to accompany application for adoption order
49 Notice to be given of adoption plan
50 Registration of adoption plans
51 Review of adoption plans
Part 5 Consents to adoptions
Division 1 Who must consent to an adoption?
52 Consent of parents and persons who have parental responsibility generally required
53 Ways in which parent or person who has parental responsibility can give consent
54 When consent of parent or person who has parental responsibility not required
55 Consent of child
56 Birth father to be given opportunity to consent
Division 2 When is consent effective?
57 Definitions
58 When is consent ineffective?
59 Mandatory written information
60 When is consent to be given?
61 Form of consent
62 Consent must be witnessed by person independent of counsellor
63 Child or other person consenting must be counselled
64 Consent to adoption of Aboriginal child
65 Consent to adoption of Torres Strait Islander child
Division 3 Dispensing with consent
66 How is need for consent dispensed with?
67 When can Court dispense with consent of person other than the child?
68 Who may apply for order dispensing with consent of person other than the child?
69 When can the Court dispense with the child’s consent?
70 When can consent dispense order be made?
71 Revocation of consent dispense order
72 Notice of consent dispense order
Division 4 Revocation of consent
73 Revocation of consent
74 Notification of pending end of revocation period
Part 6 Parental responsibility for children awaiting adoption
75 Parental responsibility for citizen child awaiting adoption
76 Renunciation of parental responsibility for child present in another State
77 Parental responsibility for certain non-citizen children awaiting adoption
78 Parental responsibility reports—citizen and non-citizen children
79 Duration of parental responsibility
79A Children under the parental responsibility of Secretary leaving or being removed from care
79B Power of search for and removal of children in need of care and protection
Part 7 Preliminary hearings
80 Preliminary hearings
81 When may preliminary hearings be held?
82 Notice to be given
83 Rules of court
Part 8 Interim orders
84 Making of interim orders
85 Duration of interim orders
86 Discharge of interim orders
Part 9 Adoption orders
87 Application to be consented to by Secretary
88 Notice of application for adoption orders
89 When can order be made?
90 Court to be satisfied as to certain matters
91 Report required before order made for adoption of child
Part 10 Procedures after application dealt with
92 Care of child after refusal of an application
93 Discharge of adoption orders
94 Investigation of application for discharge
Part 11 Effect of adoption orders
95 General effect of adoption orders
96 Effect of adoption order on parental responsibility and previous adoption
97 Effect of orders as regards property
98 Effect of orders as regards dispositions of property etc
99 Relationship of adopted child to other children of the adopter
100 Liability of trustees and personal representatives in relation to adopted persons
101 Names of adopted children
Chapter 5 Recognition of adoptions
Part 1 Australian adoptions
102 Recognition of Australian adoptions
Part 2 Intercountry and overseas adoptions
103 Object of Part
104 Meaning of child
105 Application of Act
Division 2 Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption
106 Adoption in NSW of child from NSW by parents from Convention country
107 Adoption in NSW of child from Convention country by parents from NSW
108 Recognition of adoption of a child from a Convention country in that country
109 Effect of recognition
110 Refusal to recognise an adoption
111 Order terminating legal relationship between child and parents
112 Evidential value of adoption compliance certificate and Convention country adoption order
Division 3 Bilateral arrangements
113 Adoption by NSW parent in prescribed overseas jurisdiction of a child from that overseas jurisdiction
114 Effect of recognition
115 Evidential value of adoption compliance certificate
Division 4 Recognition of other overseas adoptions
116 Recognition of foreign adoptions in countries other than Convention countries and prescribed overseas jurisdictions
117 Declarations of validity of foreign adoptions
Chapter 6 Proceedings
118 Parties
119 Hearings to be in camera
120 Secretary may appear at hearings
121 Court may require attendance
122 Legal representation
123 Guardian ad litem—child
124 Guardian ad litem and amicus curiae—birth parents of child
124A Guardian ad litem—exclusion of personal liability
125 Support persons
126 Matters admissible in evidence
127 Wishes of child
128 How wishes of a child are expressed
129 Children not to be required to express wishes
Chapter 7 Records of adoptions
130 Functions of nominated officer in relation to orders under this Act
130A Functions of Secretary in relation to overseas adoptions
131 Sending of records of orders to other States and countries
132 Particulars of orders received from other States
Chapter 8 Adoption information
133 Prescribed information
133A Definition of “presumptive father”
Part 2 Access to birth certificates and other information
Division 1 Access entitlements (adoptions after 2008 changes)
133B Application of Division
133C Adopted person’s rights
133D Adoptive parent’s rights
133E Birth parent’s rights
133F Discretion to supply other information to birth parents
133G Non-adopted sibling’s rights
Division 2 Continuation of former access entitlements (adoptions before 2008 changes)
133H Application of Division
134 Adopted person’s rights
135 Adoptive parent’s rights
136 Birth parent’s rights
136A Discretion to withhold supply or to supply subject to conditions
137 Access to adoption information by relatives and others after death of adopted person or birth parent
138 Application for supply of adoption information
139 Persons designated to deal with applications
140 Discretion to supply adoption information
141 (Repealed)
142 Guidelines for release of prescribed information etc
143 Access to court records
143A Application of State Records Act 1998
Part 3 Advance notice
144 Object of Part
145 Definitions
146 Who may lodge an advance notice request?
147 How advance notice request is lodged
148 Advance Notice Register
149 Secretary to delay issue of supply authority or prescribed information
150 Endorsement of details of advance notice request
151 Expiration of advance notice registration
152 Arrangements to waive advance notice period
153 Notification to person who lodged advance notice request
Part 4 Contact vetoes
154 Adopted person or birth parent may lodge contact veto
155 Contact veto may be lodged only for adoptions before Adoption Information Act 1990
156 How contact veto is lodged
157 Contact Veto Register
158 Secretary to endorse details of contact veto on authority to supply adoption information
159 When contact veto takes effect
160 Expiration of contact veto
161 Arrangements to confirm, cancel or vary contact veto at request of person seeking contact
162 Notification to person who lodged contact veto of request for information
163 Notification to person affected by contact veto of cancellation or variation
164 Undertakings not to contact person who has lodged contact veto
Part 5 Reunion and Information Register
165 Definition
166 Reunion and Information Register
167 Persons eligible to have their names entered in the register
168 Message may be left
169 Secretary may refuse to enter name or take message
170 Circumstances in which Secretary may open, inspect and copy message
171 Secretary may delay delivery of message
172 Regulations
173 Arrangements for reunion of registered persons
174 Location of persons not registered
Part 6 Miscellaneous
175 Duties of Secretary and accredited adoption service providers
175A Disclosure of information for research purposes
Chapter 9 Offences
176 Definitions
177 Payments for NSW adoptions or intercountry adoptions and adoption services
178 Unauthorised advertising
179 Making available or supplying prohibited adoption advertising on on-line service
180 Restriction on publication of material identifying persons affected by adoption application
180A Court authorisation of publication of identifying material
181 False statements
182 Impersonation
183 Presenting forged consent or other document
184 Undue influence
185 Improper witnessing of consent
186 Unauthorised disclosure of information
187 Prohibition on contact with birth parents of child
188 Veto on contact—offences
Chapter 10 Review of decisions
189 Reviewable decisions
190 Duty of relevant decision maker to give reasons in request
191 Relevant decision maker may refuse reasons in certain cases
192 Internal review
193 Decisions that are administratively reviewable by Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Chapter 11 Miscellaneous
194 Restriction on inspection of records
195 Consultation with Aboriginal persons
196 Consultation with Torres Strait Islanders
197 Manner of giving notice
198 Notices and other documents to be written in other languages
199 Entitlements of disabled persons
200 Fees and charges
201 Provision of financial and other assistance to certain children and birth parents
202 Administration of certain estates
202A Entry and inspection under search warrant
203 Authority to prosecute
204 Proceedings for offences
205 Exclusion from proceedings
206 Delegation
207 Rules of court
208 Regulations
209 Repeals
210 Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption
211 (Repealed)
212 Savings and transitional provisions
213 Review of Act
Schedule 1 Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption
Schedule 2 (Repealed)
Schedule 3 Savings, transitional and other provisions
Contents (2000 - 75)
Current version for 27 June 2017 to date (accessed 17 January 2018 at 16:01)
This Chapter specifies the procedures that are to be followed in proceedings before the Supreme Court under the Act.
(cf AC Act s 23)
(1) The Court may permit such persons as the Court thinks fit to appear in or be joined as parties to the proceedings for an adoption order.
(2) The Court must, on application by a person who is the father of a child who has not:
(a) given his consent to the adoption of the child, and
(b) been given a notice referred to in section 56 (Birth father to be given opportunity to consent),
permit the person to appear in, or join the person as a party to, the proceedings for an adoption order in relation to the child for the purpose of opposing the application for the order.
The Court may require the attendance of any party. See section 121.
(cf AC Act s 64)
(1) Any proceedings heard by the Court under this Act or the regulations must be heard in closed court.
(2) Despite subsection (1), the Court may, if it considers it to be appropriate, permit persons who are not parties to the proceedings or their Australian legal practitioners or representatives to be present during the hearing of the proceedings.
(cf AC Act s 68)
The Secretary may appear at the hearing of any application under this Act, and may address the Court, and call, examine and cross-examine witnesses.
(1) The Court may require any party to the proceedings for an adoption order to attend personally before the Court.
(2) The Court may require the party to attend at such time during the hearing of the application as the Court directs.
child means a person (including a birth parent) who is less than 18 years of age.
(2) The Court:
(a) must appoint an Australian legal practitioner to represent a child if a guardian ad litem is appointed for the child, and
(b) may (whether or not a guardian ad litem is appointed) appoint an Australian legal practitioner to represent a child if it appears to the Court that the child needs to be represented in any proceedings before it under this Act.
(3) Without limiting the role of an Australian legal practitioner representing a child, the role of the Australian legal practitioner representing a child in proceedings includes:
(a) ensuring that the views of the child are placed before the Court, and
(b) ensuring that all relevant evidence is adduced and, where necessary, tested, and
(c) acting on the instructions of the child or, if the child is incapable of giving instructions:
(i) acting as a separate representative for the child, or
(ii) acting on the instructions of the guardian ad litem.
(4) There is a rebuttable presumption that a child who is not less than 10 years of age is capable of giving proper instructions to an Australian legal practitioner representing the child. This presumption is not rebutted only because a child has a disability.
(5) The Court may, on the application of an Australian legal practitioner representing a child, make a declaration:
(a) that a child who is less than 10 years of age is capable of giving instructions, or
(b) that a child who is not less than 10 years of age is not capable of giving instructions and that the legal representative is to act as a separate representative of the child.
(a) a child is less than 10 years of age, or
(b) a child who is not less than 10 years of age is incapable of giving proper instructions to the Australian legal practitioner representing the child,
the Australian legal practitioner representing the child is to act as a separate representative.
(7) The role of a separate representative includes the following:
(a) to interview the child after becoming the separate representative,
(b) to explain to the child the role of a separate representative,
(c) to present direct evidence to the Court about the child and matters relevant to his or her safety, welfare and well-being,
(d) to present evidence of the child’s wishes (and in doing so the separate representative is not bound by the child’s wishes),
(e) to cross-examine the parties and their witnesses,
(f) to make applications and submissions to the Court for orders (whether final or interim) considered appropriate in the interests of the child,
(g) to lodge an appeal against an order of the Court if considered appropriate.
(8) An Australian legal practitioner representing, or acting as separate representative of, a child who has not been appointed by the Court may appear only with its leave.
(9) The Court may withdraw its leave at any time if the child informs the Court that he or she does not wish to be represented by the Australian legal practitioner.
(1) The Court may appoint a guardian ad litem for a child if it is of the opinion that:
(a) there are special circumstances that warrant the appointment, and
(b) the child will benefit from the appointment.
(2) Special circumstances that warrant the appointment of a guardian ad litem may include that the child has special needs because of age, disability or illness.
(3) The functions of a guardian ad litem of a child are:
(a) to safeguard and represent the interests of the child, and
(b) to instruct the Australian legal practitioner representing the child.
(4) An Australian legal practitioner representing a child for whom a guardian ad litem has been appointed is to act on the instructions of the guardian ad litem.
(1) The Court may:
(a) appoint a guardian ad litem for either or both of the birth parents or adoptive parents of a child, or
(b) request the Australian legal practitioner representing a parent or the parents of a child to act as amicus curiae,
if it is of the opinion that the parent is, or the parents are, incapable of giving proper instructions to his or her, or their, Australian legal practitioner.
(2) Circumstances that warrant the appointment of a guardian ad litem or a request for an Australian legal practitioner to act as amicus curiae may include that the parent of a child has an intellectual disability or is mentally ill.
(3) If the Court requires the attendance of a birth mother under section 121, the Court must appoint a guardian ad litem for the birth mother if she is less than 18 years of age.
(4) The functions of a guardian ad litem of a parent of a child are:
(a) to safeguard and represent the interests of the parent, and
(b) to instruct the Australian legal practitioner representing the parent.
(5) An Australian legal practitioner representing a parent for whom a guardian ad litem has been appointed is to act on the instructions of the guardian ad litem.
Amicus curiae is defined in the Macquarie Dictionary (3rd ed) as a person not a party to the litigation who volunteers or is invited by the court to give advice to the court upon some matter before it.
(1) Anything done or omitted to be done by a member of the Guardian Ad Litem Panel who is appointed by the Court as a guardian ad litem does not subject the member personally to any action, liability, claim or demand if the thing was done, or omitted to be done, in good faith for the purposes of exercising his or her functions as a guardian ad litem under this Act.
(2) However, any such liability attaches instead to the Crown.
Guardian Ad Litem Panel means the panel constituted as the Guardian Ad Litem Panel by the Secretary of the Department of Justice.
(1) A participant in proceedings under this Act before the Court may, with the leave of the Court, be accompanied by a support person.
(2) The leave of the Court must be granted unless:
(a) the support person is a witness in the proceedings, or
(b) the Court, having regard to the wishes of the child with respect to whom the proceedings are brought, is of the opinion that leave should not be granted, or
(c) there is some other substantial reason to deny the application.
(3) The Court may withdraw its leave at any time if a support person does not comply with any directions given to the support person by the Court.
(4) A support person cannot give instructions on behalf of the participant or act as an interpreter for the participant in the proceedings.
(cf AC Act s 65)
Except as otherwise provided by this Act or the regulations, the Court, in the hearing of any proceedings or in determining any application or matter under this Act or the regulations, may act on any statement, document, information, or matter that may, in its opinion, assist it to deal with the matter of the proceedings or before it for determination whether or not the statement, document, information or matter would be admissible in evidence.
(cf AC Act ss 33, 38, AC Reg cl 28)
(1) In proceedings before it, the Court is to take into account any wishes and feelings of the child (considered in the light of the child’s age and understanding) that are expressed by the child.
On participation generally of the child in decisions about his or her adoption see section 9.
(2) The Court may direct that a child be provided with such counselling as the Court considers appropriate.
The Court may inform itself of wishes expressed by the child:
(a) by having regard to anything contained in a report made to the Court by the Secretary or the appropriate principal officer, or
(b) subject to rules of court, by such other means as the Court considers appropriate.
Nothing in this Act requires the Court or any person to require a child to express his or her wishes in relation to any matter.