Victims to help word adoption apology

PEOPLE directly affected by past forced adoption practices are being asked to help the federal Government frame its national apology.

Some 150,000 unwed mothers had their babies taken against their will by churches, hospitals and adoption agencies in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

A Senate committee which investigated the Commonwealth’s involvement recommended in February that the government formally apologise to victims.

The national apology will follow similar acknowledgement of wrongdoing to the indigenous Stolen Generations and former child migrants known as

“It’s important the people who have been directly affected by forced adoption have the opportunity to have their say about the apology,” Attorney-General Nicola Roxon says in a statement today (Friday, August 17).

“I can’t even begin to imagine what these mothers, fathers and their now adult children have endured, but what I can do is provide an opportunity for them to have a say in how the government frames the apology.”

People wanting to get involved can email the group at forcedadoptionsapology@ag.gov.au.