DAVID Sharaz has only one thing to say to his birth mother: ''thank you''.
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He knows a few details about the woman who brought him into the world and surrendered him for adoption, but has no desire to meet her because as he puts it: ''I have parents … I have a mother I love dearly and a father who is more of a man than I could ever hope to be,'' he said.
A judgment handed down by the Supreme Court of NSW this week has allowed a pair of adoptive parents, whose names were withheld, to keep the original birth certificate of their adopted child.
Canberra family law expert Di Simpson - of Dobinson, Davey, Clifford, Simpson - said the decision set a legal precedent because it overturned the previous practice of the court retaining the original certificate, once an updated birth certificate was issued reflecting the adoption order.
In the judgment handed down by the court, Justice Brereton said the Adoption Amendment Act, 2008, supported greater openness for adopted children.
''It has not been the practice of the court to return the original in cases where the child is of [Australian] birth,'' he said.
''There does not appear to be any legislative basis for this practice but it appears to be informed by a desire to avoid potential for confusion and deception.
''It may also be a practice inherited from the days that preceded 'open adoption' practices.''
It was unclear yesterday whether the ruling would have any impact on matters in the ACT courts. Organiser of the Canberra Independent Adoption Support Group and editor of the Australian Journal of Adoption, Thomas Graham, said enabling adoptees to learn about their origins was important and required support.
''It has always been a big thorn in the side of adoptees to have their information withheld from them,'' he said. ''It's very hard to live with - to not know where you come from. Any jurisdiction that opens up the records so you can see your personal information is to be applauded.''
Mr Sharaz, a 21-year-old Canberra University student, was adopted under an open system, where his birth mother selected his adoptive parents. Mr Sharaz said he believed that adoption was a ''noble thing to do''.
''I think it's incredibly hard, I don't have any angst or regret towards the woman who gave birth to me,'' he said. ''I think giving up a child is one of the most difficult things you can do but also one of the bravest things.''