New adoption laws proposed

Legislation allowing older West Australians and relatives to adopt has been introduced to State Parliament.

Under the proposed laws, relative adoptions will be reintroduced to WA which would allow relatives to adopt children.

Laws allowing relative adoptions were repealed in 2003.

Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney said it was a significant reform for WA, which was one of the few jurisdictions where adoption by relatives was not permitted.

The legislation will also scrap age limits for older person in adoptive couples. Currently, the maximum age gap between the child and the youngest applicant is 45 years and 50 years for the older applicant.