Yes Suse, one only has to hark back to the deplorable inhuman conditions in some state run Romanian orphanages, were badly beaten children were left lying in the own feces, vomit and urine for days on end, fed occasionally, sometimes once a day, or every other day, and so on!
To understand the real human dimension here and the need for active affirmative adoption!
Were that there were concerned foreign parents wanting to get their kids back!

Leslie; Please be so kind as to show where I have mislead anyone?
Yes I am a creature of conviction, but not immutable rigidity!
Show me evidence, real not imagined, and you may get me to change any long held view!
And given voting is compulsory, why waste it on Mr informal, who has to date, to propose or do anything worthwhile.
At least if we ignored your incredibly simplistic advice, we would at least compel change eventually, whereas, if we followed your simplistic advice, the politicians would do as they've always done; and accept the voters effective silence as consent/vote for the incumbent!
Whereas, if there were continuous turnover, the pollies would get the message very quickly, and start finally listening to their constituents.
Around 40% of voting age young people simply don't vote!
Why?
Because it's compulsory!
There are plenty of places and people who would give not just an arm or a leg, but their lives as well, just to have the opportunity to vote!
You however, don't consider it a real privilege?
So perhaps you should move to Russia or China, where you'll will not only be never asked to vote/express your opinion on proposed govt legislation; because that's what effectively happens when you actually vote; but prevented from actually doing so!
The 40% that currently don't vote, could if voting as an organized block, decide every election, instead of endlessly bitching about the quality of the candidates!
A few one term govts will change everything!
Rhrosty.

I agree Rhrosty, that it was very useful for the conditions in Romanian orphanages to be exposed to the world. As a result of this, Romania has banned intercountry adoption and has taken responsibility for looking after their own children in their own country. Excellent outcome all round and that's what should happen everywhere. The history of the Romanian orphanages is a complex one, however and it's not fair simply to blame the parents.

'Mr Abbott does not appear to be concerned that there are countries in which women are currently being coerced, are experiencing social stigma and do not have access to contraception or abortion '

It seems Mr Abbott shows more compassion and concern for the unborn child than Evelyn does. Its amazing how twisted the 'compassion' of the left becomes and then to demonise anyone standing for decency.

Alright Louisa, I will deal with actual quotes then.
Louisa "There are not, actually thousands of "orphans" around the world."
How could you possibly know that?
I bet there are hundreds of thousands of orphans around the world!

"I'm sorry that you feel that the "cultural issues" can be dealt with so easily",
I never said that now did I?
I said it it could be dealt with appropriately.

A good friend of mine was adopted from Korea by Aussie parents who took her back to Korea and ensured she knew as much about her culture as possible.
She was an orphan and has found her birth parent's death certificates, with help from her Aussie parents.
She is a happy contented lady who is glad she wasn't left to grow up unloved in a Korean orphanage, where she was found.

A girl I went to school with was an Aussie baby adopted here in Australia, and she was messed up and depressed about this adoption for as long as I can remember.

I guess what I am trying to say is that there are good and bad stories about adoption from wherever the children are adopted from.

I am sure that ignoring the plight of some very sad children in poor overseas children's homes just because they might miss their own people or culture later in life is not a good enough reason to avoid adoptions from other countries.
I say we should at least give them a chance at a reasonable life with love and family.

I would agree with Suze on this.

Adopted children are not ripped from the arms of their loving parents. In many countries they are abandoned, and without adoption can only expect a lonely miserable childhood.

My concern is not so much for the adoptees, but rather with the thousands left behind.

I don't understand your post, runner. Perhaps you'd like to explain it. The quote from the article about women who were being "... coerced, and experiencing social stigma and do not have access to contraception or abortion" is a quote from Mr Abbott himself. Perhaps you didn't read his speech (there is a link to it in the article.