New South Wales to retain ban on gay adoption

New South Wales' ban on gay couples adopting is to remain in place, the Australian state's government has revealed.

A change in the law would have widened the pool of adoptive parents for children in state care and would also allow children currently being fostered by gay parents a permanent home.

Commenting on the decision to uphold the ban, Community Services minister Linda Burney said: "Members were unable to reach a consensus, reflecting divisions on this issue in the wider community."

Reacting to the decision, Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby spokeswoman Kellie McDonald told Australian Associated Press: "We believe that, politics aside, if the government's primary concern is the best interests of the child, that they should act swiftly to remove the discrimination in the Adoption Act to ensure all children are protected under the law."