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The
Need For An Inquiry Into The Adoption Process Throughout Australia
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Background
Origins
(Tasmania) is a group whose aim is to provide support for birth mother,
birth fathers and adoptees who have been affected by the adoption system
that has been inplace in this state for many years. For at least the
last 70 years the adoption of children in Australia has been covered
by various Acts of Parliament. These Acts provided for the protection and support of both adoptees and birth parents. Unfortunatley, from our experience, it would appear that those people charges with overseeing the adoption process laid down in these Acts have actively flouted the rules and this has had a terrible effect on the lives of those covered by the Acts. There
are numerous instances of documents being falsified, signatures being
forged and lies being told to birth parents, many birth parents were
told that their child had died at birth and subsequent investigations
have shown that those in authority then forged documents to support
these lies. The
end result of this rorting of the system is many shattered lives.
There are birth parents and adoptees throughout this State who are
emotionally disturbed. A significant number of adoptees have ended
up on the streets while both adoptees and birth parents often find
it hard to cope with normal human relationships and life in general.
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The Need for an Inquiry
Origins
(Tasmania) feels that it is now time that these problems are resolved
and it is our submission that an open inquiry would go a long way in
achieving this goal. For too long the whole topic has been kept quiet
and the illegal practices have been able to flourish because of this
cloak of secrecy. An inquiry would help in the healing process for people affected by adoption for there are many adoption myths that would exposed. Adoptees would see that their birth parents didn't just throw them away but were forced into the adoptive process. The general public would also be able to see the terrible effects that this situation has had on the people involved and would then be able to understand what we have gone through. From this understanding would come acceptance. Origins (Tasmania) is not interested in revenge but those people who failed to comply with the Act, for whatever reason, must be identified and be held accountable. Those people who broke, and continue to break the law must also be identified and be brought before the Courts. |
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Inquiry into Past Adoption Practices
The
executive members of Origins Tasmania have met with the Minister for
Health (Mr Peter McKay) in 1997. Unfortunately this meeting did not
go as well as we had hoped. His feelings towards our group was not
very impressive, infact he was (quote) "pissed off" with us. He even went as far as making the members feel inferior and tried to silence us once again as we were many years ago. What Mr McKay did not realise and that is we are mothers - mothers fight for their children and we never give up that fight.... There is a need for an inquiry into past adoption practices, so Origins Tasmania is encouraging anyone affected by adoption to forward their support to us, so that we may pass any letters of support on to the new Labour Party who has taken an interest in what we believe in and has promised us a confidential inquiry into past adoption practices. Most past adoption practices were illegal and our members are carrying the emotional scars from these practices. Our members need healing but without past adoption myths and practices being exposed and debunked there can be no healing. Because
of the movement across State borders, this has become a Federal
concern rather than a matter for individual states, therefor we
want the Federal Government to recognise this and institute a full
inquiry into past adoption practices. |
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Tasmania's
Inquiry Into Past Adoption Practices
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| Origins Tasmania
first began fighting for an Inquiry into Past Adoption Practices
when Origins Tasmania became a wonderful group in June 1996. The
many people involved all had a reason to fight for this inquiry.
However, many would not live to see the end or the changes to the
legislation that were recommended by the Joint Select Committee
involved with the Inquiry Into Past Adoption Practices. Origins Tasmania members met with many members of Parliament, this included, members of the Liberal Party, who really didn't want an inquiry to happen, the Labor Party (Fran Bladel) and also members of the Adoption Information Services. The best
the Liberals could do was to allow Anne Cunningham to investigate
the past adoption practices and then submitted her report. Unfortunately
this report was only the bits and pieces of what should have been
a full inquiry into these illegal practices for the past 50 to
70 years. Peter McKay met with us and told us how pissed off he
was with us, because we would not go away and allow them to forget
what happened to us many years ago. When the Liberal Party failed to win the election, Origins Tasmania continued to approach the Labor Party. Fran Bladel was the life support of many people, eager to help and full of compassion. It was passed in Parliament that there would be an inquiry into passed adoption practices. Finally after many letters, many meetings, many tears, many months of hard work on the part of some members especially Mary, Chris, Charmaine (who passed away shortly after the inquiry) and myself along with a few other members the Inquiry was called in 1999. Three long years of fighting for the inquiry and it finally eventuated. Our goal had been achieved. Mind you
there was another group here in Tasmania who did not want this
Inquiry to be held. Adoption Jigsaw did not want this inquiry,
in fact they were given the chance a few years prior, but they
spoke within the group and advised the then Government of the
Day that there was no need for an inquiry. Origins Tasmania had stirred up a storm so to speak. It was amazing that when submissions were called for, many came forward. We at Origins Tasmania, thank those who came forward - for the courage it took to write about the past that has haunted us for many many years. We thank the adoptees who came forward to talk about their lives - growing up not knowing who they really were, telling us how their lives have been affected. Not only were there adoptees and natural mothers, there were natural fathers and also the adoptive parents. The Inquiry was not easy. For those who could not put their thoughts, their feelings, their lives into words and on paper, Mary and Chris spent many hours slogging away on the computer - writing out their stories. The inquiry brought out the feelings, that many people had wanted to forget but could not. In some ways the Inquiry was not good for some, but a must for others. For many Origins Tasmania members, the inquiry was a gift sent from heaven. Many were able to tell their stories of how they were treated - by their families, by the departments….. Many of the stories were horrific…… Too many
of the stories were the same, " a young girl falling pregnant
to her boyfriend, the mother or father finding out, and then being
told to leave the family. The young girl is sent to an un-married
mothers home, where she is not allowed contact with anyone, not
allowed to even talk to any of the other girls, made into slaves
and not paid a cent for the work that they did. If the young girls were not sent to homes, they went into hospital to have their babies, with out the help or the support of their families. Many of these girls were coerced into relinquishing their babies. Many were told that their babies had died, many girls were given amphetamines, until they could not remember anything that had happened, many had their faces covered with a sheet or a pillow and their babies taken from them. Many stories were told to the Joint Select Committee, they too were shocked to hear so many horror stories, from natural mothers and adoptees. In the north of the state, an adoptive mother was reported as saying "they made the mistake so let her live with it". After this was reported, she then came back and said that is not what she meant. If this is not what she meant, then what did she mean? Many adoptees do not want to find their birthparents and many birthparents to do want to be found. We accept that, but there are many adoptees and birthparents out there just waiting for their chance of a happy reunion. Or to just know what has happened to their baby / mother or father……. The Joint
Select Committee has pointed out that there needs to be changes
to the legislation: Origins Tasmania wants anyone who reads this to please send a letter suggesting that the recommendations the Joint Select Committee decided on be tabled and the changes be made in Parliament. These letters
can be sent to each member of Parliament at: Names
of members of Parliament
Australian
Labor Party - Government of Today The Honourable
Jim Bacon The Liberal Party The Honourable
Wilfred Bert Bonde The Tasmanian Green Party Peg Putt, BA (hons) |
If you would like
to send your letters of support, or would like more information,
please feel free to contact me via email me by clicking here
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