Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices (2010 - 2012)

The Inquiry was established as a result of the efforts over many years of mothers who were separated from their children by adoption.

The terms of reference for the Community Affairs Reference Committee to inquire and report on were:

1. The role, if any, of the Commonwealth Government, its policies and practices in contributing to forced adoption; and


2. The potential role of the Commonwealth in developing a national framework to assist states and territories to address the consequences for the mothers, their families and children who were subject to forced adoption policies.