Outcomes in Adoption: The views of adoptees and natural parents

Under the provision of Section 62 of the Adoption of Children Act (Victoria, Australia) 1964, inspection of records of adoption proceedings is restricted, and Regulations 35 and 36 of the Adoption of Children Regulations 1965 prohibit or restrict access to birth entries relating to adopted children. In November 1976 the Attorney-General of Victoria requested the Statute Law Revision Committee to examine whether these restrictions should apply to an adoptee who has attained the age of 18 years or to the natural mother of an adoptee. The Committee reported in October 1978 and recommended, inter alia, that in any new adoption legislation adoptees should have only a qualified right to access to original birth records on application to a judge. Moreover, any changes in the law should not be made retrospective to cover those already adopted.