Q + A
PANEL DISCUSSION 2
Hosted by PAUL HOLMES
In response to ADOPTION

PAUL The panel – Bob McCoskrie, Raymond Miller and Anton Blank. This is the shortest panel ever held in the world. Is adoption reform needed, Bob McCoskrie?

BOB MCCOSKRIE – National Director, Family First
No, of course not. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Look, there may be some minor tweaking in terms of just formalising the closed versus open, but as we know, open adoptions are happening anyway, so it’s not a major issue. There’s not a huge queue of children desperate to be adopted.

PAUL But gay adoption?

BOB No, because I think our children deserve…

PAUL Raymond Miller?

BOB …a mum and a dad.

PAUL Okay.

Dr RAYMOND MILLER – Political Scientist
Yes, it is time. 57 years is an awful long time. It’s a question of the law catching up with reality. People now accept that new family structures have emerged, and it makes absolute sense for single and gay couples to adopt.

PAUL Are you bothered by gay couples adopting?

RAYMOND Absolutely not.

PAUL Mr Blank?

ANTON BLANK – Executive Director, Ririki
I totally support Kevin, agree with Raymond that the legislation is totally outdated. And gay marriage – yeah, we totally support that because it’s about creating more tolerance in families.

PAUL Thank you all very much. You’ve been a most entertaining panel, and I thank you for your comment.