The traditional child-rearing practices of Torres Strait Islanders have been legally recognised in Australia for the first time, after the Queensland parliament passed a new law overnight.
The Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa Act 2020, which translates to "For Our Children's Children", formally recognises Torres Strait Islander children traditionally adopted by relatives or other community members.
Queensland MP Cynthia Lui, who represents the Far North seat of Cook, said Torres Strait Islanders have raised their children in loving, supportive extended families or kinship groups for generations.
"Until now, these family relationships have never been fully recognised in law," she said.
"This act means children and adults who've grown up with traditional adoptive parents will finally have their legal identity match their cultural identity."
Previously, children could only take the name of their biological parents as cultural or kinship relationships were not recognised.
This resulted in a myriad of identification and legal issues, resulting in difficulty getting a passport or drivers license or access to education, health, banking and housing services.
Now, a child's cultural parents can make parental decisions and a child would have the same legal rights as other children of the cultural parents, including inheritance rights.
The bill passed into law unanimously in state parliament late on Tuesday with support from the LNP opposition and crossbench.
Queensland member for Cook Cynthia Lui speaks during Question Time at Parliament House in Brisbane, February 2020. Source: AAP
It was introduced by Ms Lui, who is the first Torres Strait Islander to be elected to an Australian parliament.
Aunty Ivy Trevallion, who chaired the Kupai Omasker working group, said the law would preserve traditional child-rearing practices while removing legal barriers.
Queensland is the first state in Australia to adopt the law, fulfilling a promise made by the Palaszczuk Labor government at the 2017 state election.
