[Greens-Media] WA apologises for past adoption practices, Victoria should follow (Pennicuik Vic)

[Amanda.Sharp at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Wednesday 20 October 2010

WA apologises for past adoption practices, Victoria should follow 

An apology was moved as a motion by the Premier in the WA state parliament 
yesterday acknowledging the trauma and suffering of mothers, children and 
families affected by the adoption practices of past governments between 
the 1940s and 1980s. Western Australia is the first state parliament to 
make such an apology.

Commenting on the apology WA Greens MLC Alison Xamon said "Evidence 
indicates many of the young mothers were so emotionally scarred by the 
experience they never had children again, and the children themselves grew 
up mistakenly believing their mothers had abandoned them."

"The Victorian Greens welcome the apology which will hopefully offer some 
solace to the children and the adoption community whose lives have been 
traumatically impacted by these past practices," Ms Pennicuik said today.

"It will confirm to the children who were 'relinquished' that their birth 
families had few real choices available to them at the time due to these 
practices which abused human rights. 

"Many mothers, children and families have been similarly affected by past 
adoption practices in Victoria," she said.

"We hope the Victorian government will make a similar apology early in the 
life of the next parliament," Ms Pennicuik said. 

Greens Senator for WA Rachel Siewert will move a motion next week in the 
Federal Senate to recognise the suffering of the thousands of mothers who 
were victims of the forced adoption policies and to acknowledge that these 
mothers deserve an apology. 

For further comment:  Sue Pennicuik – 0409 055 875

For more information: http://www.vanish.org.au/


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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
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