Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts35. Court may dispense with certain consents
The Court may, by order, dispense with the consent of a person, other than the Minister or the child, to the adoption of a child where the Court is satisfied that -
(a) after reasonable inquiry, the person cannot be found;
(b) the person is in such a physical or mental condition as not to be capable of properly considering the question whether he or she should give his or her consent;
(c) the person has
abandoned, deserted or persistently neglected or
ill-treated the child;
(d) the person has, for a period of not less than one year, failed, without reasonable cause, to discharge the obligations of a parent or guardian, as the case may be, of the child; or
(e) there are any other special circumstances by reason of which the consent may properly be dispensed with.