SA: Masked parents protest changes to adoption

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2005
SA: Masked parents protest changes to adoption

ADELAIDE, Feb 17 AAP - Adoptive parents donned surgical and masquerade masks today
to protest changes to South Australia's adoption laws.

About 100 people wore masks, amid fears of being fined up to $20,000 if they were identified
during media coverage of the protest.

Under SA law, it is an offence to publish details that can identify adopted children
or their parents.

The protesters called on the state government to reverse its decision to make the Families
and Communities Department the sole agency responsible for overseeing inter-country adoptions.

Currently, adoptions are handled by a licensed non-government agency.

Adoptive parents criticised the move, which the government has said would make adoptions
quicker and simpler.

"Adoption is an emotional process ... it's about mums and dads just wanting to be mums
and dads," one woman said.

"I just don't think the government is going to provide that emotional support."

Family and Community Services Minister Jay Weatherill said the decision was made in
light of a higher rate of child abuse notifications among adopted children and the high
number of placement breakdowns in SA compared with other states.

"This is about making sure that I can be satisfied the children's best interests are
served through the adoption process and that can only be achieved through a government
agency," he said.

SA couples adopt overseas children at a higher rate per capita than any other state.

A total of 72 children from countries such as China, India, Ethiopia, Thailand, Taiwan,
Hong Kong, the Philippines and South Korea were adopted in SA in 2003-04.

There were only six local adoptions.

About 230 SA couples are currently in the process of adopting a child from overseas.

AAP la/sl/pb/jlw

KEYWORD: ADOPTION

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.