Senator HARRADINE —My question is to the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Minister, you will remember that despite the procrastination by the Victorian Department of Human Services we were ultimately able to get for the first time an Australia-China intercountry adoption agreement. Could the minister advise the Senate when the agreement between Australia and the PRC in respect of adoption will come into action.

Senator HILL (Environment and Heritage) —I recognise, again, Senator Harradine's interest in this very important matter and that it has been a struggle to progress. Nevertheless, real progress does seem to be being made at present and I think Senator Harradine in his question was recognising the amendments we made at the Commonwealth level to facilitate a bilateral agreement between China and the appropriate state which will set the standard for Austral ian adoptions from China. That bilateral agreement is being negotiated, as Senator Harradine knows, by the State of Victoria. That was pursuant to a resolution of the Community Services Ministerial Council. I understand the negotiation is progressing and is expected to be finalised in the first half of next year.

Recent changes to China's adoption law, as reported in some Australian newspapers—I noticed it in the Age—will not affect the need for a formal agreement between China and Australia before Australians can adopt children from China. When the agreement is in place, the adoption, which will always take place in China, will be recognised in Australia. On entry to Australia these children will not come under the I(GOC) Act and there will be no need for the parents to seek further recognition of the adoption through an Australian court. Migration regulations have been amended to facilitate adoptions under the proposed bilateral agreement with China, as I said. They will come into force from the date the agreement comes into force. It has been a long time coming but it looks now as if the matter should be concluded within the next six months.

Senator HARRADINE —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. There are thousands of children desperately needing adoptive parents and there are many people in Australia wanting to adopt. Is the minister aware the Department of Human Services in Victoria is quoting a cost of $17,000 for each adoption, including $8,000 charged by the federal government for immigration fees and court costs? Aren't these costs rather prohibitive?

Senator HILL (Environment and Heritage) —I am not aware of that. They do sound to me to be somewhat prohibitive and I will speak to Mr Ruddock about it, in particular about the $8,000 fee which Senator Harradine has referred to as a Commonwealth charge.