Adoption of Children Act 1994
35Court may dispense with certain consents
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35 Court may dispense with certain consents The Court may, by order, dispense with the consent of a person, other than the Minister or the child, to the adoption of a child if the Court is satisfied that: (a) after reasonable inquiry, the person cannot be found; or (b) the person is in such a physical or mental condition as not to be capable of properly considering whether to give consent; or (c) the person has abandoned, deserted or persistently neglected or ill-treated the child; or (d) the person has, for a period of not less than one year, failed, without reasonable cause, to discharge the obligations of a parent or guardian, as the case may be, of the child; or (e) there are any other special circumstances by reason of which the consent may properly be dispensed with. Division 5 Guardianship of child awaiting adoption