The Age – "Howard slams ACT gay adoption law"

Prime Minister John Howard has spoken out against an ACT law which allows homosexual couples to adopt children.

Federal cabinet was reported to be considering overturning the law, which was passed last month by the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The federal parliament has the power to override territory laws and in 1997 overturned a Northern Territory law which legalised voluntary euthanasia.

Mr Howard said he did not support the ACT gay adoption law.

“I don’t support gay adoption, no,” Mr Howard told the John Laws radio program.

“I’m against gay adoption, just as I’m against gay marriage.

“I think there are certain benchmark institutions and arrangements in our society that you don’t muck around with.

“Children ideally should be brought up by a mother and a father who are married. That’s the ideal.”

Mr Howard said he knew unmarried couples could be good and loving parents, but the best conditions for children were to be raised by married parents.

“I believe in the maximum conditions of stability for people who have children,” he said.

“I think it is incredibly important that people have role models of both sexes.”

Mr Howard has previously written to the ACT’s Labor Chief Minister Jon Stanhope expressing concerns about gay adoption and the territory’s bill of rights.

Mr Stanhope said he believed Mr Howard was bluffing and would not intervene to overturn ACT laws.

“I can’t believe that the prime minister would seriously think it appropriate for the Commonwealth to intervene in the ACT’s affairs to overturn some fairly basic human rights legislation,” Mr Stanhope told ABC radio.

Federal Labor leader Mark Latham has said he will oppose any move to overturn the gay adoption law.

[Link: Original Article]

The Age – "PM condemns ACT gay adoptions laws" by AAP

Prime Minister John Howard today condemned Australia’s first laws which will allow gay couples to adopt children.

He said the new ACT laws were an example of political correctness, but said children should ideally be raised by a married mother and father.

The new laws in the ACT are part of a new ACT Bill of Rights.

But federal cabinet is expected to examine the laws and to decide whether or not the federal government should intervene and have them overturned.

Federal parliament has previously used its constitutional powers to overturn the Northern Territory laws on voluntary euthanasia.

Mr Howard said he had examined the ACT laws and said he opposed any bill of rights, as it could lead to limits on individual freedoms.

“I think the idea of the ACT having a bill of rights is ridiculous. If you’re going to have things like that, they should be done on a nationwide basis,” he told the John Laws radio program.

“This is political correctness inside the Labor Party parading itself for all the world to see.”

He said he did not support gay adoptions.

“I don’t support gay adoption, no,” Mr Howard said.

“I’m against gay adoption, just as I’m against gay marriage.

“I think there are certain benchmark institutions and arrangements in our society that you don’t muck around with.

“Children ideally should be brought up by a mother and a father who are married. That’s the ideal.”

Mr Howard said he knew unmarried couples could be good and loving parents, but the best conditions for children were to be raised by married parents.

“I believe in the maximum conditions of stability for people who have children,” he said.

“I think it is incredibly important that people have role models of both sexes.”

[Link: Original Article]