The Adoption of Children Ordinance 1965 (Act no. 15/1965) marked a distinct turning point in adoption law, recognising that the paramount consideration for decisions made should be the welfare and interests of the child concerned. It commenced on 18 October 1966, repealing the Adoption of Children Ordinance 1938. This legislation was also significant because it reflected a view that the relationship between children and birth parents should not be maintained after adoption, leading to restrictions on information. It was repealed by the Adoption Act 1993 (ACT) on 31 July 1993. This ordinance became an ACT Act on 11 May 1989 (see Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 s 34 (4).
Amended by Act No.41/1974, Act No.5/1979, Act No.42/1983, Act No.4/1988, and Act No.71/1991.
1938 - 1966 Adoption of Children Ordinance 1938
1966 - 1993 Adoption of Children Act 1965
1993 - Adoption Act 1993
Sources used to compile this entry: 'Australian Capital Territory: Provisions of the legislations', in To remove and protect: laws that changed Aboriginal lives, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2009, https://aiatsis.gov.au/collection/featured-collections/remove-and-protect; Law Research Service, Melbourne Law School, Law Library, The University of Melbourne. 'Find and Connect Project - Northern Territory Legislation', 1 February 2013, held in the project files at the University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre.
Prepared by: Lydia Connell and Christine Moje
Created: 4 May 2011, Last modified: 21 October 2014