23 October 2015
Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has voted against the Adoption Amendment (Adoption by Same-Sex Couples) Bill 2015.
The purpose of the bill is to provide equality for same-sex couples and children in adoption.
Clause 17 of the bill inserts a new section 82(3) in to part 5 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (EO Act) which takes away the freedom of choice for religious organisations who may have conscientious objections to providing same-sex adoption services.
Mr Walsh said he firmly believes in freedom of religious organisations to have choices and clause 17 impinges on those freedoms
“As the bill stands at the moment I cannot support it.
“There is a review of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 underway at the moment which would have allowed the government to separate the two issues and delivered a much more sensible debate around both issues “ he said.
“I thank the people of Murray Plains who sent me their thoughts on this piece of legislation ” Mr Walsh said.