Liberals Dump Kids The Liberal state government has deserted its responsibility to look after children whose parents are experiencing difficulties. Its new changes, being quietly rushed through parliament this week, are pushing wanted children into adoption. What should be stewardship of families is to become ownership of children. Elizabeth Edwards, convenor of Adoptions Origen Victoria said, “Minister Wooldridge has failed to consult with stakeholders prior to, or since, introducing Children, Youth and Families (Permanent Care and Other Matters) Bill 2014. The secrecy and haste around these proposed amendments are a disgrace.” Edwards added that not only do the proposed amendments tear at family life and trust, they attempt to dump the State’s responsibility for children at risk by having them adopted and off its books. “Children need to know their natural parents,” she added, “and instead of looking at options that address a short term problem for the mother and her child the Victorian Liberal Party is hell bent on creating a lifetime of despair for alternative families.” The particular amendments that Adoptions Origen Victoria objects to are Section 167 that prioritises adoption to permanent care and 276(2) where the Secretary (Community Services Department) is longer listed as the responsible entity. Edwards is concerned that the government has relinquished the role of stewardship, of looking after the child by looking after the family that is a cornerstone of our society. She said, “In 2012 the Victorian government made a bipartisan gesture in apologising to families that had suffered terrible trauma and cruel loss for more than half a century because of adoption practices. Now the Liberal government is changing the law without referral to the living lessons of history. It is so arrogant. “With these proposed amendments the Liberal state government conveniently ignores and abrogates responsibility for the society that creates parents with problems. It is the management of these families that is the issue, not management of the child.” Adoption Origin Victoria wants the Bill to prioritise permanent care above adoption and for the Department Secretary to remain obliged to exhaust the means to keep the child with the natural parents before a Court Order to remove the child can proceed. The rights of the child need to be paramount.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 03:19:41 +0000
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