Forced adoption apology momentum grows

Meaningful Support Needed Too

Paul O’Halloran MP
Greens Children’s spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens today highlighted a new national report that identifies the need for practical assistance to be provided to the thousands of people affected by past Forced Adoption practices.

Greens Children’s spokesperson Paul O’Halloran MP said that while the national momentum to provide the necessary and significant formal apologies continues, with NSW announcing this week their intention to do so, the need for practical assistance must also be addressed.

“It is fantastic news that the NSW Liberal state government has also committed to making a formal apology for past forced adoption practices, following on the recent apologies made by South Australia, the ACT, and Tasmania’s commitment to do so in the wake of the Senate Committee recommendations,” MR O’Halloran said.

“The Greens are also adamant that additional to the necessary formal apology, people affected by Forced Adoption practices must also be provided with practical assistance.”

“We have had many representations from both mothers, and adoptees expressing frustration over the difficulties and expense they have had to deal with in accessing their own records.”

“This concern has been further highlighted by a report released by the Australian Institute of Family Studies which has proposed specialised programs, including a national database, are developed to focus on assisting those affected by forced adoption practices.” [1]

“Tasmania should also be investigating appropriate ways we can be assisting Tasmanian parents and adoptees in a practical manner, that helps them access their records without stress or cost, as well as counselling and other support services.”

“The Greens welcome the commitment made by Premier Lara Giddings, and we thank her and her colleagues, to provide a formal apology on behalf of Tasmania to those affected by forced adoption practices and policies of the past. However we must not lose sight of the fact that practical assistance can and should be provided at both the state and federal levels,” Mr O’Halloran said.

[1] Link to the Australian Institute of Family Studies report: http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/resreport21/index.html

Text of Greens’ motion tabled by Paul O’Halloran MP today:

That this House Notes:

1. The Commonwealth Inquiry into past forced adoption practices recommends that state and territory governments should issue statements of apology that acknowledge practices that were illegal or unethical, as well as other practices that contributed to harm suffered by many parents whose children were forcibly removed and by the children who were separated from their parents;

2. That the Senate Inquiry recommendations also call for governments to ensure apologies satisfy the five criteria for formal apologies set out by the Canadian Law Commission and previously noted by the Senate Community Affairs Committee;

3. That the Western Australian and South Australian state governments have already issued apologies of this nature and that the ACT Government followed suit last week;

4. That the NSW Liberal State Premier has also committed to issuing a formal State Apology;

And further that this House:

5. Acknowledges and congratulates Premier Giddings for recently committing to delivering a formal apology on behalf of Tasmania;

6. Recognises the need for a thorough consultative process to be established in the formation of this apology, which will enable the apology to be relevant and meaningful to all those whom have suffered, and continue to suffer, the impacts of this traumatic past policy; and

7. Recognises the need for practical ongoing assistance for both parents and adoptees to access personal records, counselling, and other assistance services.
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Children’s spokesperson