Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts18. List of persons wishing to adopt a citizen-child
(1) The Minister shall, in accordance with this section, establish and maintain a record in such form (including an electronic form) or combination of forms, as the Minister thinks fit, of the names of the couples who have made an application to him or her under section 17 in respect of a citizen-child and who are, in his or her opinion, suitable to adopt such a child, and that record shall be known as the adoption list.
(2) The Minister shall -
(a) keep the adoption list in a form that indicates the chronological order that applications under section 17 were received by him or her; and
(b) in relation to each couple whose names are included on the adoption list, record on the adoption list such particulars, as he or she thinks necessary to assist in the arranging of an adoption, in respect of the couple and the child they wish to adopt.
(3) The names of couples shall not be included on, or continue to remain on, the adoption list unless the Minister, having received a report from an approved person in respect of the suitability to adopt of the couple, decides that the couple is suitable, or continues to be suitable to adopt the child.
(4) On making his or her decision as to the suitability of the couple to adopt, the Minister shall give written notice of the decision as soon as practicable to the couple and, where the Minister decides not to approve the inclusion of names of the couple on the list, he or she shall supply reasons for that decision.