Re Gordon (a pseudonym) (No 2); Application to discharge adoption order [2020] NSWSC 673

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Re Gordon (a pseudonym) (No 2); Application to discharge adoption order [2020] NSWSC 673 Hearing dates: 09 and 10 March 2020 Date of orders: 02 June 2020 Decision date: 02 June 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Hallen J Decision: The Court orders:

1. The notice of motion filed 24 December 2018 be dismissed with costs. Catchwords: FAMILY LAW AND CHILD WELFARE – Child welfare under State legislation – Adoption – Discharge of order sought – The Plaintiff who had been adopted in New South Wales in 1965 pursuant to the Child Welfare Act 1939 (NSW) is the biological son of the deceased and seeks an order to discharge the adoption order made – Effect of adoption – Claim for family provision order brought by the applicant, as Plaintiff, in Queensland in respect of birth father's estate – Queensland proceedings stayed until these proceedings determined – The executors, the named Defendants, in the Queensland proceedings, oppose application for discharge order sought by applicant – Executors previously joined to applicant's notice of motion for discharge of the adoption order – Executors found to be necessary, or proper, parties to the notice of motion for the discharge of the adoption order – Procedure on application for discharge – Fraud, duress or other improper means not relied on – Whether other exceptional reason for making the discharge order Legislation Cited: Adoption Act 2000 (NSW), ss 7, 8, 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 119, 180, Dictionary Adoption Act 2009 (Qld), s 214 Adoption Information Act 1990 (NSW) Adoption of Children Act 1965 (NSW), ss 17, 53 Child Welfare Act 1939 (NSW), ss 168, 180, Pt XIX Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 3, 14, 56, 57, 58 Practice Note SC EQ 13, par 33 Succession Act 1981 (Qld), s 41 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 10.2, 31.23, 31.28, 56.10 Cases Cited: A v C-S (No 1) [1955] VLR 340 Adoption of LVH [2014] NSWSC 1902 Adoption Re: P [2019] NSWSC 1623 AMS v AIF (1999) 199 CLR 160; [1999] HCA 26 Baker v The Queen (2004) 223 CLR 513; [2004] HCA 45 Director General Department of Human Services; Re M [2011] NSWSC 369 Edwards v Houghton [2019] NZFLR 1; [2018] NZFC 2716 Fay v Fay [1982] AC 835 Hackett (a pseudonym) v Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice [2020] NSWCA 83 Ho v Professional Services Review Committee No 295 [2007] FCA 388 Hogan v Hinch (2011) 243 CLR 506; [2011] HCA 4 In re B (Adoption: Jurisdiction to Set Aside) [1995] Fam 239 In the Marriage of H and H (1994) 19 Fam LR 165; (1995) ¶FLC 92-599 In the Marriage of Kress (1976) 13 ALR 309; (1976) FLC ¶90-126 In the matter of S [2018] NSWSC 367 MJD v Chief Executive, Department of Communities, Child Safety, and Disability Services, Adoption Services [2015] QSC 139 Oxfordshire County Council v X [2011] Fam 31; [2010] EWCA Civ 581 Plaintiff M174/2016 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2018) 264 CLR 217; [2018] HCA 16 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 R v Buckland [2000] 1 WLR 1262; [2000] EWCA Crim 1 R v Kelly (Edward) [2000] QB 198 Re Adoption Application No AD 58/1984 (1986) 11 Fam LR 518 Re an Adoption Application (No A 6018 of 1979) (1981) 7 Fam LR 850 Re B (A Minor) [2002] 1 WLR 258; [2001] UKHL 70 Re DG and the Adoption Act 2000 (2007) 244 ALR 195; [2007] NSWCA 241 Re GRP [2019] NSWSC 710 Re S [1969] VR 490 Re Susan (2009) 41 Fam LR 596; [2009] NSWSC 592 Re W (A Child) [2010] EWCA Civ 1535 Secretary, New South Wales Department of Family and Community Services by his delegate Principal Officer, Adoptions, Barnardos Australia; Re JLR [2015] NSWSC 926 Secretary, NSW Department of Communities and Justice v Gabrielle; Re Olivia and Ava [2020] NSWSC 281 Texts Cited: New South Wales, Law Reform Commission, Review of the Adoption Information Act 1990, (July 1992) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gordon (Applicant) SK, IF, TF and GK (Respondents) Attorney-General for New South Wales (Amicus curiae) Representation: Counsel: A Morris QC (Applicant) M Bland (Respondents) P Guterres (Attorney-General)