Shadow Minister for Primary Industries & Water, Shadow Minister for Police & Emergency Services, Shadow Minister for Parks & Wildlife, Shadow Minister for Local Government

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19
Aug

Relationship Miscellaneous Amendment Bill

2009

The State Liberals were granted a conscience vote on this Bill, as occurred with debate on the original Bill of 2003. I was one of three Members who voted against the Bill at that time. My views have not changed and I believe the Bill should be condemned as pro-adult and anti-child.

The Bill also reconfirms the unsafe practices of official identity documents, such as birth documents, being able to contain false information.

The conclusive presumption of parenthood of one child by two women, one of whom had no connection to the conception or carrying of the childhood is simply a legislated falsehood.

The second, unrelated woman can act as a loving parent for the child’s entire life, as could an adoptive mother, but she should not ever be legally declared to be something she is not – nor could ever be.

I believe the general community still holds a strong view that, all things being equal, a child should be able to expect that they can grow up with a mother and a father and that their own birth certificate – the basic document of identity – doesn’t tell untruths.

It should contain the name of the mother and if it is not possible to name the father then the document should say that rather than contain spurious statements.

I hope that the Legislative Council reinstates their 2003 opposition to this co-mothering registration.