Forced adoption survivors “overwhelmed” by results of parliamentary inquiry, including redress scheme

Forced adoption survivors are set to receive retribution for the traumas of their past, with a comprehensive redress scheme — including apologies, payouts and counselling — recommended in a parliamentary inquiry report presented last week. The report — Broken Bonds, Fractured Lives: Report On The Inquiry Into Past Forced Adoption In WA — was tabled by the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs on Wednesday. The 511-page document lists 72 findings on the institutional removal and relocation of the newborn babies of unmarried women, and 39 recommendations to recompense the wrongdoings felt by both the mothers and the children. Lead petitioner Jen McRae, who travelled from Albany to join 25 other forced adoption survivors in witnessing the tabling at Parliament House in Perth, said she was “overwhelmed” to hear the report’s findings, saying it “far surpassed” her expectations. “I’m stunned at how comprehensive it is — it even has some extra stuff we didn’t even think to ask for,” she said. “To be honest, it has far surpassed our expectations. “A lot of these recommendations are cutting-edge and haven’t been implemented anywhere else in Australia, as far as I know. “It has been such a long, hard road to get here and this report creates confidence for sure, so we can only hope this inquiry will deliver on its promises.” From the 1940s to the 1980s, thousands of unwed Indigenous and non-Indigenous young women had their babies forcibly removed from their care and “given” to married couples. The report details the “horrific” treatment experienced by these unmarried mothers who were often institutionalised, where they worked unpaid, were psychologically abused, and kept isolated. Mothers and fathers-to-be were coerced into agreeing to adoptions via “deceptive, flawed or unlawful” methods and the children were often placed with families that were not adequately vetted. Herself a survivor of forced adoption, Ms McRae started the campaign four years ago with the help of the Great Southern Adoptee Support Group, gathering 318 signatures to kickstart the inquiry in 2022. Among the recommendations detailed in the report is a redress scheme for those directly affected by forced adoption, which includes a monetary payment, counselling and psychological support, and a direct, personal apology from the institutions and organisations involved. “We never thought we would get the apology,” Ms McRae said. “These groups do tend to whitewash and craft magical narratives that try and frame their actions as a good thing. “Knowing that there is now a precedent, hopefully people can feel freer to stand up against these institutions and speak out. “There will be nothing about us, without us.” The report found Ngala, Hillcrest Maternity Home/Hospital, and multiple institutions run by the Sisters of Mercy played roles in this dark period. Other noteworthy recommendations include the removal of contact vetoes — a “restraining order” that could be given to and from any member of the adoption triangle (biological parents, adoptive parents and children) — allowing access to adoption information, removing restrictions on civil claims against liable institutions, and informing all adult adoptees of their adoption status if they were not already aware of it. GSASG member Jayne Donegan said having access to adoption information was vital, especially in the case of medical records. “I have a rare bone condition, and having access to my medical records would have been hugely helpful in my diagnosis,” she said. “I had my first surgery at the age of nine, and have had one almost every two years since then. “It’s almost criminal that we’re unable to access information that is so important to our health.” The WA Government was the first in Australia to issue an apology for historic forced adoption, in 2010, but lagged behind other States in starting an official inquiry. WA’s is the first adoptee-led inquiry in Australia, receiving more than 5850 pages of evidence from 165 contributors, and revealing at least 80 clear cases of forced adoption in the 20th century.