Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts

ADOPTION ACT 1993 - SECT 16

    (1)     On receiving a request in writing from the applicants for an adoption order, the chief executive may, if the chief executive considers that they are suitable people with whom to place a child for adoption—

        (a)     include the names of the applicants on the register of people seeking the placement of a child for adoption; and

        (b)     place a child of whom the chief executive is the guardian in the custody of those applicants until the application is decided.

    (2)     The chief executive must not—

        (a)     include the names of applicants on the register under subsection (1) unless the chief executive considers them to be suitable people with whom to place a child for adoption; or

        (b)     place a child in the custody of people under subsection (1) unless the chief executive considers that the child would be suitable, having regard to the criteria specified in section 19 (1) (c) for adoption by those applicants.