Adoption Act 2009

For an adoption proceeding, the tribunal must be constituted by 3 members, at least 1 of whom is a legally qualified member.

A compulsory conference relating to an adoption proceeding must be heard by at least 2 members, at least 1 of whom is a legally qualified member.

If a child to which an adoption proceeding relates is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, the tribunal hearing the proceeding must include, if practicable, a member who is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

The president may choose a member to constitute the tribunal for an adoption proceeding only if the president considers the member—

is committed to the principles mentioned in sections 6 and 7; and

has extensive professional knowledge and experience of children; and

has demonstrated a knowledge of and has experience in 1 or more of the fields of administrative review, child care, child protection, child welfare, community services, education, health, indigenous affairs, law, psychology or social work.

A member is ineligible to be a constituting member for a review of a reviewable decision if—

the member’s name is in the expression of interest register or suitable adoptive parents register; or

the member has made an application under part 5, division 1 that the chief executive is required to deal with under part 5, division 2; or

a decision mentioned in section 319 has been made in relation to the member (whether or not the member has applied to the tribunal for a review of the decision).

In this section—