CHAIR (Mrs Bronwyn Bishop) —I declare open this public meeting of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services conducting its inquiry into the adoption of children from overseas and related issues. Within the last week this inquiry has attracted considerable national attention. We have received over 200 submissions to date, the vast majority from parents and couples who wish to grow their families and help orphaned or abandoned children from overseas. This is the first public hearing for this inquiry the committee has held outside Canberra. The committee has received more submissions from Queensland than any other state, so it was important for us to make our first trip here.

Some of you in the audience may wish to know whether the Queensland Department of Child Safety will be giving evidence today. I invited the department, through its minister, the Hon. Mike Reynolds MP, to appear today. The minister replied that he did not think it would be necessary, given that its submission is a comprehensive statement of Queensland’s policies and processes. Just this morning the committee authorised the public release of the department’s submission. A copy will be posted on the internet later this morning, and we have one or two spare copies for the audience today as well.

This hearing is open to the public and a transcript of what is said will be made available via the committee’s web site. If you would like further details about the inquiry or transcripts, please ask any of the committee staff who are here at the hearing today.

[9.40 am]