Michael Sukkar MP

Ten year anniversary of the National Apology for Forced Adoptions

On 21^st March 2013– ten years ago to the day yesterday, a monumental event took place in this building. A long-awaited apology that should never have had to have been given in the first place.  Ten years ago we came together in this place to acknowledge a painful chapter in our nation’s history.

In 2013, then Prime Minister Julia Gillard delivered the National Apology for Forced Adoptions on behalf of the nation to Australians, which was an acknowledgment of the lifelong pain and suffering associated with forced adoption practices. Light was shed on the trauma inflicted by forced adoption and the child removal practices that took place between 1950 and 1975.

I would like to take this opportunity to again acknowledge the victims, the pain, the suffering and the grief – and express my condolences on behalf of the Coalition to the women, the children and the families who were victims of forced adoption.

These forced adoption practices denied women and aspiring families their fundamental rights to be responsible for, to care for and to love their own children.

In 2014, on the first anniversary of the national apology – former Prime Minister Tony Abbott highlighted the important occasion, saying:

‘For too long, too many had believed that they knew what was for the best for young unwed mothers and their babies. But the people who claimed it should have known better. If they had known better, terrible and avoidable pain that was inflicted on hundreds of thousands of people would have been avoided.’

A mother’s love for her child should never have been compromised by intervention. The pure and unconditional bond between a child and a mother starts nine months before they are brought into the world. It should never have been assumed that these women did not have the capability to raise their own children – the sheer shame and silence that surrounded pregnancy out of wedlock meant that these women were seen as unfit to enter motherhood.

We are ten years on from the national apology, and more than 70 years on from turning what should have been the most exciting experience of bringing new life into this world – into something associated with shame.

Forced adoption practices impacted a significant number of Australians throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s with an estimated 140,000 to 150,000 total adoptions in the period between 1951 and 1975 alone. There has been an estimated 250,000 total adoptions in the period from 1940 to the present day.

The cruel nature of this practice meant mothers, fathers, adopted children and families were torn apart by coercion and physical force, with many expectant mothers placed in homes before having their newborn babies taken away. These women were deprived of support, they were manipulated, and they were denied knowledge of their rights – ultimately meaning they could not give informed consent for the adoption.

We stand here to not only acknowledge the mothers and fathers, but also those children who were removed from their biological families and adopted. Those individuals who were told their mother did not want them, betrayed by a system which meant they could not grow up with their families, understand their culture or connect to their true roots. We see you; we acknowledge you and we respect you. We would also like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the many people impacted by forced adoption who are no longer with us today, those who are sadly no longer here to commemorate this important occasion.

In 2010, a review by the Australian Institute of Family Studies revealed the experience of past adoption practices has the potential for lifelong consequences for the lives of both the woman and child, as well as others, such as the mother’s family, the father, and the adoptive parents and their families. In November that same year, an inquiry into former forced adoption policies and practices was referred by the Parliament of Australia to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs.

The national apology for those affected by forced adoption practices in Australia came after the then Attorney-General, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP made the announcement on behalf of the Government in June 2012. At the time, it was announced that ‘the Senate inquiry and report confirmed the need for the Australian Government to acknowledge the suffering of parents and children involved’ and that the time had come to issue a formal apology.’

This came after the Senate Community Affairs References Committee released its report into the practices of force adoption, which received hundreds of submissions from individuals who had suffered from the effects of this practice and found that there were many traumatic ways in which forced adoptions occurred.

On 19 December 2012 the Australian Government announced that the formal apology would take place on Thursday 21 March 2013 at Parliament House in Canberra.

Ten years ago – on 21^st March 2013, as a nation we accepted responsibility for the pain, the suffering and the grief caused by forced adoption. Although we can’t rewrite history, we can make a conscious effort to acknowledge and support those impacted, apologise and be part of the vital healing process.

As we mark the ten-year anniversary of the national apology – Australia has come a long way since forced adoption was imposed on young families

For the mothers and fathers who were able to track down lost children and for those who were able to enter parenthood again after this dark time, we acknowledge you.

For the mothers and fathers still fighting to find a lost child and for the mothers and fathers who never had the chance to be reunited with their child or become a parent again – we sympathise with you and understand the word ‘sorry’ will never heal or make amends to the unimaginable trauma you had to face.

As a nation we are committed to supporting all those who were affected by this appalling practice – and we continue to remember the lessons learned about family separation and focus on protecting and prioritising the right that every child has – to be cared for and loved by their parents, and above all – to know them.