Forced Adoption Apology

THE HON NICOLA ROXON MP Attorney-General Minister for Emergency Management

MEDIA RELEASE

17 August 2012

REAL STORIES MATTER IN FORCED ADOPTION APOLOGY

People directly affected by forced adoption practices are being asked for their views on what the national apology should say through the Australian Government’s Forced Adoption Apology Reference Group.

The first meeting of the Reference Group took place yesterday in Parliament House and was chaired by Hon Nahum Mushin, former Family Court Judge and Adjunct Professor of Law at Monash University.

“It’s important that the people who have been directly affected by forced adoption have the opportunity to have their say about the apology,” said Attorney-General Nicola Roxon.

“I can’t even begin to imagine what these mothers, fathers and their now adult children have endured, but what I can do is provide an opportunity for them to have a say in how the Government frames the apology.”

The Attorney-General attended the first meeting of the Reference Group today, with the Group including individuals affected by forced adoptions along with members of Parliament.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Reference Group, along with many others affected, whose brave contributions to this matter have raised the attention of a nation.”

Suggestions for the development of the apology can be made to the Reference Group by emailing forcedadoptionsapology@ag.gov.au

For all media enquiries, please contact the Attorney-General’s Office on 02 6277 7300 or 0409 945 476

Apology Reference Group members
Professor Nahum Mushin	Chair of Reference Group
Senator Rachel Siewert	Chair of the Community Affairs References Committee on the Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices
Senator Claire Moore	Deputy Chair of the Community Affairs References Committee on the Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices
Senator Sue Boyce	Member of the Community Affairs References Committee on the Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices
Mr Graham Perrett MP	Chair of the Social Policy & Legal Affairs Committee
Elizabeth Brew	Committee member of Origins Inc., Mother.
Christine Cole	Convenor of Apology Alliance, Mother
Kathryn Rendell	National Council of Single Mothers and their Children, Mother
Leigh Hubbard	Chair of Vanish Inc., Adoptee.
Gary Coles	Father, who has written extensively about the impact of adoption on fathers
Paul Howes	National Secretary of the Australian Workers' Union, Adoptee