Gay adoption laws pass Lower House

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Tasmania’s Lower House has passed laws making it easier for same sex couples to adopt.

The amendment to the Adoption Act allows gay men and women to adopt a child who is not a relative.

The change passed with the support of 18 members, including Liberal MP’s Peter Gutwein, Jeremy Rockliff, Matthew Groom and Adam Brooks.

The Greens Leader Nick McKim told Parliament it raises questions about why the Opposition did not allow a conscience vote on gay marriage last year.

“What we have here is a double standard which exposes the Liberal Party’s position on marriage equality as being driven by politics, not doing what is right,” he said.

Liberal MP Rene Hidding says the Opposition applied the same party room process to both bills.

“Precisely the same took place on this debate in the party room as took place on the previous, on the marriage one and to stand up here, to whinge and whine and to reflect on a previous vote on legislation that’s not before this house today just shows who’s really being political about this,” he said.

Gay rights activists have welcomed the bill, which will now go to the Upper House.