Loading ...
While committed Catholic Premier Kristina Keneally will support the Bill to allow same-sex adoption, Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell and most senior Liberals yesterday refused to reveal their stance.
Mr O’Farrell’s spokesman said that was because he did not want his view influencing his MPs. Opposition treasury spokesman Mike Baird said: “I can’t put my hand on my heart and say it’s a good thing to deny future kids the chance for a mum and dad.”
Senior ministers, including Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt and Treasurer Eric Roozendaal, will support the Bill.
At a rally against the Bill yesterday, Liberal Party powerbroker David Clarke and Christian Democrat Fred Nile warned abortions would increase if gay couples were allowed to adopt.
The Bill – introduced by Sydney MP Clover Moore – is expected to be debated today, with all MPs granted a conscience vote for the first time on the issue.
Ms Keneally’s former leadership rival Frank Sartor is trying to amend the Bill to ensure people who offer children for adoption will not face legal action under anti-discrimination laws if they refuse to let a gay couple adopt their child. His office yesterday said he was “undecided” on how he would vote.
If successful, Education Minister Verity Firth said the Bill would remove the last law in NSW that discriminates against same-sex couples.
It would also make NSW one of three states, joining Western Australia and ACT, allowing gay couples to adopt.
The Benevolent Society charity and UnitingCare Burnside, one of the largest child and welfare agencies in NSW, supported the Bill, saying it would benefit children and boost foster carer numbers
This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 10:12 am and is filed under World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
