Tasmanian government apologises for forced adoptions
Today in the Tasmanian Parliament, the Premier Lara Giddings delivered a formal apology to people affected by past forced adoption policies in Tasmania. Liberal leader Will Hodgman and Nick McKim of the Greens also apologised, in front of an audience of 100 people at Parliament House.
Tasmania is the fourth state to apologise (after WA, SA and NSW), after the Senate Committee tabled the report in February 2012 following the inquiry into the Commonwealth contribution to forced adoption polices and practices.
Before the Senate inquiry, Tasmania had held its own inquiry into past adoption practices in 1999, the Joint Select Committee on Adoption and Related Services 1958-1988.
In the Find & Connect Tasmania web resource, you will find information about adoption legislation and the many organisations and institutions that played a role in the history of adoptions in Tasmania, including hospitals, receiving homes, adoption agencies and babies’ homes.
The Tasmanian Premier announced that the state would provide people affected by forced adoptions with specialised counselling, free access to records and that a permanent memorial would be erected.
“We acknowledge the lifelong damage that has been done to the lives of those affected by past forced adoption practices, and we commit to ensuring that these unethical, immoral and illegal practices are never repeated,” Ms Giddings said.