Table of Contents
Terms of reference
Participants
Executive Summary
1. INTRODUCTION
Background to the reference
Approach of the Commission
The Report
2. BACKGROUND
Adoption information law in NSW before 1991
The Adoption Information Act 1990
Adoption information law in other jurisdictions
3. PUBLIC AWARENESS
Introduction
Publicity for changes to adoption information law
Public Awareness Survey
Conclusions and recommendations
4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE ACT
Overview
Family Information Service, Department of Community Services
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
Post Adoption Resource Centre
Operation of the Act: supply of original or amended birth certificates
Operation of the Act: release of prescribed information
Reunion Information Register
The contact veto system
Fees
5. IMPACT OF THE LEGISLATION
Introduction
Birth parents
Adoptees
Adoptive parents
Extended family members
Contact and reunions
Impact of contact vetoes
Impact on Aboriginal people
Multicultural aspects
6. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE ACT
Basic principles of the Act
Parliament's expectations
Experience in other jurisdictions
Arguments addressed to the Commission
The Commission's conclusion
7. ADDITIONAL PROTECTION OF PRIVACY
Introduction
An Adoption Information Exchange
An Advance Notice System
Discretionary power to refuse birth certificates or prescribed information
8. PARTICULAR MATTERS
Birth certificates and prescribed information
Birth fathers
Attaining majority
Birth parents' claims to non-identifying information during childhood
Birth parents' rights to identifying information
People with disabilities
Relatives' access to information
Last known name and address
Perusal of mail by FIS
Ending of contact veto system: s29
Appendix A
Adoption Information Act 1990
Adoption Information Regulation 1991
Appendix B
Report: Survey and Qualitive Research (MJS Keys Young)
Appendix C
