3 June, 2026
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (16:27): I thank members for their contributions: the Hon. Mr Gumbys, the Hon. Nicola Centofanti, the Hon. Mr Bernardi, the Hon. Mr Hanson, the Hon. Ms Henderson and the Hon. Ian Hunter. In concluding this debate, I think the Hon. Ian Hunter has summed up my sentiments pretty nicely. I think it is important, though, to point out that the theme that seems to run through the opposition to this bill is, I think, encapsulated by the Hon. Ms Henderson, where she refers to a birth certificate as being based on biological fact, not familial structure. That is not a view that is supported by law in Australia.
It is a long-established principle in states right across the country that the government issues a post-adoptive birth certificate listing the adoptive, that is, non-biological parents, as the legal parents at the time of birth once an adoption is completed. It is a long-established principle that the birth certificate does not recognise biology; rather, it recognises the family structure. The suggestion that simply because someone does not breastfeed or has not given birth, and that therefore they are not a mother, is something that I think a lot of people in the South Australian community would find deeply offensive, whether they be mothers who have adopted children, whether they are stepmothers, and the like.
This kind of reductive view of motherhood I think really is out of step with 21st century South Australia, and I think it is a window into why the Liberal Party are not likely to be a party of government any time soon in South Australia, because parties of government seek to represent the whole community. They are not parties that seek to represent narrow sectional interests and play culture wars.
The Hon. C. Bernardi interjecting:
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: I listened to the Hon. Cory Bernardi with courtesy. I ask for the same courtesy in return. Despite my opposition to his views, I did listen to what he had to say, as I did all members. I do not appreciate being heckled when I am talking about an important matter. This is a pretty simple proposal. It is not earth-shattering. It is not going to turn the world on its axis, but what it will do is deliver a simple change that will help a lot of families and will be welcomed by a lot of same-sex couples in our state.
I think it is important to note in summing-up that I first became aware of this matter when I was contacted by a constituent. They were a same-sex couple, a lesbian couple. They had gone through the process of having a child and when they went to register, with great excitement, and get a birth certificate for their newborn child they realised that only one—the birth mother—could be recognised on the birth certificate, and the other mother had to be reduced to seeing her contribution listed as a co-parent. They said, 'How can this be that this is the case in the law of South Australia?' If this child had been born in WA or in the ACT, both parents would have been appropriately listed on the birth certificate.
To highlight how absurd this is, members will be aware that I am a donor to some friends of mine, and so I have two beautiful children through them. They are a beautiful lesbian couple, two mums. Their children were born in the ACT and so both of the kids have their mums recognised appropriately on the birth certificate. Had those children been born in South Australia, only one of the mothers would have been recognised as a mother. Really, that is absurd, and it is time for the law to change. I thank the Labor Party for their support of this bill, and I look forward to its speedy passage through this place.