Peter Kaye  -  Independent Candidate for Bass

There is a small underlying issue that effects a number of people that needs to be addressed and that is the subject of natural family health information and history for children that have been adopted at birth.

Very little information is available to adoptees about their genetic make up which inevitably becomes a problem later in life.

When they go to their doctor in their later years with health issues, the doctor's first question is generally "is there a history of this in your family?".

Of course there is no answer to this question other than "I don't know - I was adopted".

It seems to me that when mothers give up their children for adoption they should be required to provide NON IDENTIFYING family health information for use by the adopted child in years to come.

Just basic information regarding issues such as heart attack history, diabetes history, cancer history, serious illness history. None of it has to be identifying in any way.

This will probably affect very few people alive today but, in future years, will be absolutely invaluable to children who are being adopted now. It is a sensible measure that should be implemented.

Written and authorised: Peter Kaye, Trevallyn, Launceston. 7250