To the Honourable John Hannaford, MLC

Attorney General for New South Wales

Review of the Adoption Information Act 1990

Dear Attorney General

We make this Final Report pursuant to the reference to this Commission dated 16 December 1991.

Hon R M Hope QC

(Commissioner)

Professor David Weisbrot

(Commissioner)

Ms Clare Petre

(Commissioner)

Associate Professor Richard Chisholm

(Commissioner)

Terms of Reference

On 16 December 1991, the then Attorney General, the Honourable PEJ Collins QC MP referred the following matter to the Commission:

The Commission is to inquire into and report on the operation of the Adoption Information Act 1990 and the Adoption Information Regulation 1991, and in particular to consider:

(i) the implementation, public awareness and administration of the legislation; and

(ii) the impact of the legislation on birth parents, children surrendered for adoption, adopting parents and the extended families of all parties.

Participants

The Law Reform Commission is constituted by the Law Reform Commission Act 1967. For the purpose of the Adoption Information Reference, the Chairman, in accordance with the Act, created a Division comprising the following members of the Commission:

The Hon R M Hope QC

Professor David Weisbrot

Associate Professor Richard Chisholm (Commissioner in Charge)

Justice J Brownie (until 13 July 1992)

Ms Jane Stackpool (until 13 July 1992)

Ms Clare Petre (from 13 July 1992)

Executive Director

Mr Peter Hennessy

Research and Writing

Associate Professor Richard Chisholm

Adrienne Bailey

Cathleen Sherry

Sharminie Niles

Librarian

Ms Beverley Caska

Desktop Publishing

Julie Freeman

Administrative Assistance

Ms Zoya Howes

Mrs Shirley Lucke

Ms Alison Dugan

Cover Design

Stephanie East

Julie Freeman