70Power of Secretary to consent to adoption of child

### 70 Power of Secretary to consent to adoption of child > > (1)  The Secretary may consent to the adoption of a child under the [Adoption Act 1988](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1988-041) if the child is under the guardianship of the Secretary until the child reaches 18 years of age by reason of – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 70 Subsection (1) amended by No. 64 of 2013, s. 31, Applied:28 Feb 2018\]*](/view/html/inforce/2018-02-28/act-2013-064#GS31@Hpa@EN) a care and protection order under [section 42(4)(c)](#GS42@Gs4@Hpc@EN) ;; or > > > > > > > (b) a similar order made under an enactment; or > > > > > > > (c) an assumption of guardianship by the Secretary under [Part 8](#HP8@EN) of this Act; or > > > > > > > (d) an enactment. > > > (2)  In deciding whether to consent to the adoption of a child, the Secretary must – > > > > > > (a) consider the best interests of the child to be the paramount consideration; and > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 70 Subsection (2) amended by No. 64 of 2013, s. 31, Applied:28 Feb 2018\]*](/view/html/inforce/2018-02-28/act-2013-064#GS31@Hpb@EN) have regard to the principles set out in [Part 1A](#HP1A@EN) ; and > > > > > > > (c) [*\[Section 70 Subsection (2) amended by No. 64 of 2013, s. 31, Applied:28 Feb 2018\]*](/view/html/inforce/2018-02-28/act-2013-064#GS31@Hpc@EN) have regard to the desirability of securing stable living arrangements for the child.