The Adoption of Blake (a pseudonym) [2022] NSWSC 1766

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Adoption of Blake (a pseudonym) [2022] NSWSC 1766 Hearing dates: 19 December 2022 (submissions 16 December 2022) Date of orders: 20 December 2022 Decision date: 20 December 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity - Adoptions List Before: Meek J Decision: Orders made for the adoption of Blake Catchwords: FAMILY LAW — Children — Adoption — Whether child is an Aboriginal child pursuant to Adoption Act 2000 (NSW) — Consideration of consultation requirements of s 33(1)&(2) of that Act particularly whether consultation is required prior to placement of child for adoption or whether such consultation can take place after physical placement STATUTES — In the event the proper construction of s 33(1)&(2) required consultation prior to placement of the child for adoption such performance of the statutory requirement was practically impossible — Performance of the statutory requirement if impossible may be excused FAMILY LAW — Consideration of placement of child with non-Aboriginal parents FAMILY LAW — Children — Adoption — Whether adoption clearly preferable and in the best interests of the child — Change of name — Registration of adoption plans Legislation Cited: Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) Adoption Act 2000 (NSW) Adoption Regulation 2015 (NSW) Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) Children's Guardian Act 2019 (NSW) Cases Cited: Adoption Application – Re T & S [2008] NSWSC 96 Adoption of 'A' [2020] NSWSC 1533 Adoption of A [2022] NSWSC 493 Adoption of BR [2018] NSWSC 1009 Adoption of F and IR (anonymized) [2022] NSWSC 262 Adoption of NG (No 2) [2014] NSWSC 680 Adoption of RCC and RZA [2015] NSWSC 813 Donnelly v Marrickville Municipal Council [1973] 2 NSWLR 390 Ex parte Baker; Re Kelly [1965] NSWR 860 Hackett (a pseudonym) v Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice [2020] NSWCA 83; (2020) 379 ALR 248 Lockrey v Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales (2012) 84 NSWLR 114; [2012] NSWCA 249 Pochi v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1979) 36 FLR 482 Principal Officer, Family Spirit Adoption Services v D (ANONYMISED) [2022] NSWSC 142 R v Justices of Leicestershire (1850) 15 QB 88; 117 ER 391 Re Leonardo [2022] NSWSC 1265 Re the Adoption of AJH [2017] NSWSC 1571 Sudath v Health Care Complaints Commission (2012) 84 NSWLR 474; [2012] NSWCA 171 The Adoption of Edward (a pseudonym) [2022] NSWSC 1488 Texts Cited: Macquarie Dictionary, online ed Category: Principal judgment Parties: Principal Officer, Adoptions, Barnardos Australia (Applicant) Representation: Counsel: