Parliament tightens rules on overseas adoptions after woman adopted 21 children with little oversight

A woman investigated for people trafficking in 2017 went on to adopt 21 children from overseas with minimal formal scrutiny. Police found the conduct didn't meet trafficking thresholds but flagged concerns about her controlling the children's finances. Parliament introduced the Overseas Adoptions Legislation Bill in May 2026, requiring Family Court oversight of international adoptions from non-Hague countries—scrutiny that didn't previously exist.