Western Australia announces parliamentary inquiry into forced adoptions of children

Western Australia will follow Victoria in holding an inquiry into forced adoption, following two years of campaigning by people who were adopted out as children and mothers who were forced to give up their babies.

A parliamentary committee this afternoon confirmed an inquiry would be held after both sides of politics indicated support for it in recent days.

Premier Mark McGowan on Tuesday revealed a personal connection to the issue upon backing calls for an inquiry.

Survivors in Western Australia say little has been done to support them or restore their basic human rights since WA became the first state in the country to apologise for forced adoption in 2010.

Inquiry to probe adoption practices over four decades

Labor MP Peter Foster, who is chair of the Standing Committee on the Environment and Public Affairs, tabled a report in parliament on Wednesday, saying the inquiry would look into the adoption practices of the 20th century between 1939 and 1980.

Key points:

WA has announced it will hold a parliamentary inquiry into forced adoptions

The practice was common across Australia between the 1940's and early 80's

Campaigners say the ongoing harm of forced adoption needs to be acknowledged

He said the committee would try to understand the lived experiences of people affected by forced adoption practices and examine the role of the state government, health services and private institutions in those practices.

Mr Foster told the Legislative Council it would also look into what measures were currently available to help people experiencing distress, their effectiveness, and how people can be further supported.

The committee is calling for written submissions with the deadline being April 21.

Canberra man, Michael Hickey, who was adopted out as a newborn in Perth in 1960, has welcomed the announcement.

"The WA Government has already apologised but it hasn't allowed the healing part to happen," Mr Hickey said.

"It's done the truth telling and said these nasty things happened but doesn't acknowledge that there are ongoing harms."

Non-contact law 'enemy of closure'

Mr Hickey said one of those ongoing harms was the existence of so-called "contact vetoes" which campaigners have labelled cruel and outdated.

Call to end 'cruel, outdated' adoption vetoes

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He is one of about 8,000 Australians barred from contacting family members under a veto, which in this case has been taken out by his biological mother who he has never met.

"The contact veto itself is preserving a secret," he said.

"It is the enemy of healing, it's the enemy of closure."

Forced adoptions were common across Australia between the 1940's and early 80's.

A senate report found that there were between 140,000 and 150,000 total adoptions from 1950 and 1975.

Victoria held an inquiry in 2021 which has resulted in redress and counselling being made available for mothers forced to give up their babies.

Concern over timeline

Albany woman and adoptee Jen McRae, who led the campaign, welcomed the inquiry but is worried about the timeline.

"It's fabulous to finally have the definite yes," she said.

"But I will make the comment that the submission deadline is too short.

"Even the Victorian inquiry had a much longer time-frame.

"This is a highly traumatised group of people who will need support to be able to submit a written testimony or be in person when they submit their testimony.

"So we need to really wrap a blanket around everyone and make sure they are going to be safe when they talk of their experiences."

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