NEWS

New Laws to Support Indigenious Families and the issue of Birth Certificates in the case of Overseas Adoptions

The Family Responsibilities Commission and Other Acts Amendment Act 2001 was assented to on 4 November 2011. The Amendment Act contained amendments to the:

• Family Responsibilities Commission Act 2008
• Adoption Act 2009
• Child Protection Act 1999
• Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2003

The Family Responsibilities Commission was established between the Queensland and Federal governments and the Cape York, Queensland communities of Aurukum, Coen, Hope vale and Mossman Cove. The Commission was established to support, empower, encourage and assist the members of these communities to maintain responsibility for the wellbeing of their communities. The objectives of the commission are to focus on early intervention, to support the restoration of socially responsible standards of behaviour and make appropriate use of community support services that are available to these communities. The Amendment Act provides that the Commission will continue for an extended period of one year, to 1 January 2013.

The Amendment Act makes minor amendments to the Child Protection Act relating to circumstances when a child is in the chief executive’s custody under a temporary custody Order.

The Amendment Act also contains provisions resolving practical problems that had been encountered by families in being issued with Birth Certificates for children who been adopted overseas. Previously, there was no power for the Registrar to be notified of inter-country adoptions where the final adoption order had been finalised overseas.