WHERE IS TASMANIA’S APOLOGY ON PAST FORCED ADOPTIONS POLICY?

… As South Australian Premier Delivers

The Tasmanian Greens today called for a clear commitment from the Premier, Lara Giddings, that Tasmania will issue an apology to all those affected by previous forced adoption practices, and that all three parties will be invited to participate in developing an appropriately worded apology in consultation with stakeholders.

Greens Children’s spokesperson Paul O’Halloran MP said the South Australian Premier delivered a moving apology in that state’s Parliament today, which shamed Tasmania by its lack of action.

“South Australia today sought to make sincere amends to its citizens who were affected by past forced adoption practices with its Premier, Jay Weatherill, issuing a heartfelt apology during a special sitting of their state parliament,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“This begs the urgent question; where is Tasmania’s?”

“In February this year a Senate Committee report was tabled in the Commonwealth Parliament which called state and territory governments, as well as the Federal government, to issue formal statements of apology to those affected by forced adoptions policies in force from the 1950s to 1980s.”

“Since the release of the Senate report the Greens have raised the need for a Tasmanian apology in the Parliament numerous time, and we keep just being told that it is ‘under consideration’.”

“That is not good enough. Tasmanian women and children who had their lives turned upside down due to these abhorrent practices deserve the same acknowledgement and redress as those in South Australia.”

“The Greens are calling for in-principle support for a Tasmanian Apology to those affected by Forced Adoption policies, and then for a tripartite working group to be established to work collaboratively with stakeholder groups and individuals to develop an appropriately worded apology.”

“We are also not prepared to be further fobbed off by any attempt to argue that we should wait until the national apology is made. Adoption laws are state’s responsibilities, and Tasmania needs to face up to its responsibility just as WA and SA have done.”

“The pain, loss and damage is still very real for many of these families who were torn apart, and while an apology will not undo this awful action, it will go a long way towards helping people heal,” Mr O’Halloran said.

Background:

• 15 November 2010 – Australian Senate sent a terms of reference to the Community Affairs Reference Committee to inquire into the forced adoption practices and policies.

• 2010 – The West Australian government apologised for its role in forced adoptions.

• 29 February 2012 – Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee, chaired by Greens’ Senator Rachel Siewert, tabled its report, “The Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices”.

• 6 March 2012 – Tasmanian Greens’ tabled a motion in the Tasmanian House of Assembly calling for tripartite in-principle support for a State apology, and a working group to be established to develop an appropriately worded apology.

• 23 June 2012 – Federal Attorney-General Nicola Roxon announced the establishment of a reference group to advice the Federal government on the timing and content of a Federal apology.

• 18 July 2012 – South Australian Premier, Jay Weatherill, issued a State apology during a special sitting of the South Australian Parliament.

• It is estimated that between the 1950s and 1970s, and even into the 1980s in some instances, approximately 150, 000 single mothers had their babies taken against their will by churches and adoption agencies.

• The Catholic Church, the Uniting Church, and the Royal Women’s Hospital (Melbourne) have all apologised for their respective roles in forced adoptions.

Text of Greens’ motion currently before the Tasmanian Parliament:

That the House notes:

1. The Senate Committee investigating the Commonwealth Contribution to Forced Adoption Practices tabled their Report last week, 29th February, 2012;
2. That this Report acknowledges the severe trauma caused to victims of forced adoption and the role of State and Federal Governments and non-government organisations in administering this trauma;
3. That the Report makes 20 recommendations, of which a number refer to specific action to be taken by individual States and Territories;
4. Recommendation 3- (9.7) recommends that state and territory governments and non government institutions that administered adoptions should issue formal statements of apology that acknowledge practices that were illegal or unethical, as well as other practices that contributed to the harm suffered by many parents whose children were forcibly removed and by the children who were separated from their parents;

And further this House:

5. Acknowledges the role played by the Tasmanian Government in forced adoption practices;
6. Gives in-principle support to a Parliamentary apology to those affected by the forced adoption policy; and
7. Requests the three Parties represented in this House work co-operatively with stakeholders to formalise appropriate words for a parliamentary apology.
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Children’s spokesperson Wednesday, 18 July 2012