Senate inquiry into forced adoptions found barbaric, horrific abuses

It appears Family & Community Services (NSW) are harrasing the victims of forced adoptions with intrusive letters suggesting they are doing unlawful things.
Hasn;t this all happened before.
Are Family & Community Services DoCS, guess they are, and they're at it again.
Trying to damage and degrade the birth mothers who lost so profoundly to forced adoptions. Shame on them and they're on record now for doing this yet again.
They wont get far doing this all over again, too many supports this time round.

Judith and Family

I'm a part sibling to a child who was taken from my mother in an forced adoption,
It wasn't until I had to go to counseling for a grief I've been through I understood my mum.
I also started to understand myself better as well.

Not much said about us siblings who may not be blood related except for our same mums, we exist and I for one think this forced adoption not only affected my mother and whoever else it also affected my life.

Things would have been so dfferent for my mum if the powers that be had have shown some dignity and honored the mothers for that ominous role of motherhood, or in forced adoptions case, being the birth mothers.
It's not easy, I've watched several births. To lose a loved baby after all that labour no way, that's terrible.

Love and healing to all who suffer through policies and practices that should have been banned, and now need more than an apology.

Missy

Governments and many others as well are very good at thinking wrongly a woman or girl alone is totally alone.
i.e. If a woman lives alone they seem to think she is able to cop whatever flack they hand to her. These birth mothers who live alone and are thought to be alone, usually have more social supports and loving people in their worlds than governments realise.
I'm ashamed governments are targeting women when they think they're alone and that these women have to assert, I'm not alone in ways you may never understand.
This was the tragedy of forced adoptions.
Very vulnerable "alone" girls, adolescents and women carrying babies were treated despicably.
If the governments want to victimise any of these mothers who live alone today, yet may not be at all alone in life, they need to re-think what they're doing.
The same thing as what transpired with forced adoptions.
Treating the mothers as if they are doing wrong again is a known tactic of the bully.
Bullies like this work in organsations against what they perceive to be "alone" targets, and they press buttons again that do a lot of damage.
More their loss of any credibility as being humane than anything less.
Forced adoption mums, their children and adopted ones are not to be targeted by governments with generic accusatory tactics.
Best bet however, is it's their negative thinking, leave it in their ball court. They'll get caught out doing this to vulnerable all too often they just dont get it there are caring people who are right beside the "alone" birth mothers today, unlike yesterday.

I feel for the child who spoke up about being a sibling to an adoptee. This hasn't been given much attention, is important.
I've no doubts at all such siblings have a lot of their own pains to heal and understand, as well as their mums.

Good luck to you all, don't let "officialdom" frighten you, they do everything so generically, and treat everyone as on the lowest common denominator, to their discredit, not yours. No adult sophisticats amongst women and children who lost to forced adoptions, they've got that very wrong.

Don't take the generic DoCS letters or Human & Community Services letters personally, they're a reflection of these departments, not of you.

If they persists with any denigrating letters though do take it up with legal reps. Keep the letters at a place away from your own home at a close friends, and give originals to lawyers, photocopies retain if you want. Keep the original records/letters/notes in "safe legal chambers" if at all possible.

You're about to get a formal apology from the Commonwealth on the 21st March at 10.30 I think it is.
The States are another story, not all have apologised and some are doing terrible things again. Their shames, not yours.

Abi(gail)

I'm a birth mum.
I'm reading today about these women being treated contemptously and Need to notify this.
I received two separate letters of allegations or possible allegations against me and they were generic like people are saying.
They came from the same government department.
I felt sick receiving these and thought if only they the depts. knew what "reactive depression" is, and what harm they do. Yet I wonder if they want to do this deliberately?
Then again before reading all this I received another letter of "allegations or possible allegations" against me and my lifestyle, low and behold this one had in first paragraph: bla, bla bla, and if you're not involved in this (more or less) "we apologise for troubling you."
The trouble is the first two letters were really allegations of wrong or insuating there was this possibility. They were intrusive and highly troubling as I felt I was again being treated in a demeaning and hostile way. I'm told I was and am being subtle in some ways and generic as it all is.

These people are shamemongers or guiltmongers who haven't any idea what their letters do to people.
The real guilty are usually sociopaths who don't feel anything let alone guilt or shame. They know this these departments yet they persist in their generic allegations or possible allegations of wrong doing.

My question here is why they think everyone is a hoon, a crim. of some kind, even birth mothers again are "bad" or "possibly bad" people?

What's going on with all these letters, the numbers.
Always unsigned by the way. The last one at least had a name to it, no signature so illegal.
I was told unsigned letters are illegal.
I'll report if there are any more of the same. Three letters and a news one from another government agency about the same things meaning about the same possible allegations is quite enough thanks very much DoCS.

Try this on with the guilty, and leave the rest of us alone.

As an abused and persecuted birth mother the guilty got away with the most inhumane horrendous acts. Covert as well as overt allegations and acts. I'm afraid I wont allow DoCS or any government department to get away with that again.
The four harmful mailouts to me are out of my hands now.
I'm not in any way associated to wrong doings.
I'm doing my very best to try and heal wanting to have the decency of the governments to be allowed that basic humanity.

Stop treating people like children who are always naughty.
Are you projecting your own wrongs onto us all?

I suggest to others if they are being mistreated again to go to everyone they know and report what is happening to you, or what letters you're receiving which are trying to implicate you in wrongs you have nothing to do with.

It's interesting to notice some people have blogs about something similar to this kind of thing.
One woman has a blog about all the rumours and innuendo which has been put on her.
They loved to treat birth mothers in demeaning ways, who knows why, and some of the "demeaners" were and are today women themselves. Some of them are mothers.
That's really sad.

Accusing the tragically accused is very bad practice.
Leave the forced adoptions mums and children alone or support them not discredit them again.
For Gods sake.

The nation is now supporting these women and children.
We've heard them so are not letting this go without the apologies and reparations.

Those who choose otherwise face the consequences.

Unsigned letters from officials or anyone else are not legitimate.
This is to do with what has been raised here at this time.

In the past, why do you think these women who have spoken up talked so much about how their "signing" under duress was such a profoundly tragic experience.
They had to own and be accountable, via their own legitmate signature, even when they had no knowledge of what they were signing and how it would affect their lives thereafter. They had no supports whatsoever in these barbaric processes.

They've learnt one [amongst others] lesson very well, to read and re-read with time, anything they have to sign, and to understand its content and implications, or not sign if it's under duress, which is against the law.

Unsigned letters are not legitimate.
Neither are those letters with signatures that were forged on many birth mothers' consent forms.

If officials dish it out they're best realising they have to take it.

Long term friend and supporter of birth mother in Sydney

My life is slightly shorter than yours however my family tree shows just what you're saying to be true.
Single mothers have and are always treated poorly, no matter how much they contribute and do well.
The nation may be giving an apology to forced adoptions however that's all that is, a simple apology.
It's not due to 'the nation' being fair, reasonable and compassionate it's to do with an outcome from a Senate Inquiry, not a first one either.
I'm wondering though if so many people are appalled at the way single mums are being penalised no one in power is listening in this nation. Fair Australia has darkened or always been dark on differences.
Is the answer this nation has no heart at all, because I've also heard it too many times how there is something wrong at the core of our society, it's all about money.
When any society goes that far down how do the people with consciences speak up and change things?
A lot of us want to raise the standards of consciousness so this nation does start to care.
Any suggestions how we individually and collectively do this are appreciated.

Thanks for your comment. Wisdom and love go hand in hand.

If "Compassion comes from the heart not the government" by Edward Britton, then I believe the governments we all want "at heart" are ones which promote empathy.
Empathy existed when forced adoptions happened, it was not promoted or practiced by the government of the time, therefore not the 'nation'.
You get the best out of any people by showing them you have some heart.
How crazy is it to want the worst.
We who care do want to see the single mothers and fathers given due respect and ample support to live decent creative lives.
There are a lot of people taking charge and standing up, showing empathy and to do right in this world. That's the focus no matter what distracts us from this.
There's a lot to distract us from this yet we have to live in hope.
I don't believe, no matter what wrongs the present government have done, we need a worse government.

Forced adoptions were wrong. What government was in power when they happened, we all know.

We need to actively promote empathy, until it becomes part of majority consciousness.

This forced adoptions is important for all of us to learn from.
For the people involved I send my heartfelt best wishes for your recoveries and well-beings.

With an upcoming election, we have to see the opposition in power would be doomsville, why are so many thinking they'll stand an ant's chance?

What the present government can no longer ignore is either they do show empathy and on a scale never before shown or they're out.
This is not a weakness the public want it's a strength they including myself are always searching for in governments policies and practices, their words and more importantly their deeds.

No more bashing singe mums for a start. No more harming mums of any kind.
That's way below the belt governments. You've hit an all time dirty low act with these things. The world is watching you as you do this, and so is the UN.
Belligerent Julia Gillard, you have to stop being belligerent to UN, get over your delusional self absorpton. You're not looking after your constituents, the people, start now and win back Labor, we can't afford the other lot top get in.
The Greens are looking good to a lot of us now and there's always the possibility of another incoming party.
You seem to be doing things to make them get in, don't you get that?

This trend to seem to think the opposition may get in is a wrongly pessimistic one.
Though it's upto the present government to do some hard work to change a few wrongs it's done to make it to another level of governance as a more decent and civil nations directors.
We need leaders with standards that are high for all in Australia.
Australia show us they were at an all time low when forced adoptions happened.
Copying the Americans to a tee.
That way isn't going to work for a younger and much different country like Australia.

Best of all things for the people involved in forced adoptions.
They've made me realise how sick a lot of people were and are even now.

Bill

Sharing some news here

New Matilda
'Arts Grant or Welfare?' Take your Pick
by Koraly Dimitriadis
dtaed 5/02/2013

This is a disturbing read, and thanks to New Matilda's writer for doing such a good job of exposing this atrocious truth.

Those writing about regressions are saying it as it is.
I find this all really disturbing.

Forced adoptions take the cake, as there the mothers couldn't even see, touch, feed and generally raise their own children. I hear some did see their babies once was it? All the same they were denied being single parents.

We have to be vigilant now, the wisdom of empathy meaning something purposeful is now apriority.

We have single mothers with their babies on the streets now, as part of the last street count, shame on our nation.
This can be found on the web if anybody needs it's proof.
Utter shame.

In Hope
In understanding and empathy toward the mothers who lost so tragically to forced adoptions in that time frame.
Is is going to happen again?
In many ways it already is.

Will a different government change this?
The Greens and Independants would try I have no doubts about this.

I've been abhorred by a lot you've done and not done.
I've been ever with you as you do the right things by this nation.
You have some very fine, noble qualities whether you want to show the world them or not is another matter.

I'm asking you here to consider the apology to the forced adoptions targets as serious and something that can change their worlds and the rest of the world for the better.

Isn't that why you chose politics?

I'm also asking you here to change your mind about something and in haste, about the single mothers/fathers benefits.

About considering if one of your sisters were in dire straits as with child alone what would you do (without sibling rivalry)?

What if they were stranded and you coundn't get to them to support them?

I don't want you to be stranded, understand this.

Nor any of your sisters or anyone.

Rethink the policies and actions about welfare for all on benefits of any kind, being a safety net as intended. and for those who need it, not choosing to focus stupidly on those few who spunge on it, before the opportuity to do so lays tragically on your shoulders. Most people are decent at core. Expect this at the next election.

You have a lot to think about we all know about this.

I thank you for the national apology which you will personally be delivering to forced adoptions people.

We have to know you have empathy, a heart. This is a necessity even in politics today and from here on in.

Show us that, it's the largest strength not weakness.

A lawyer (as you once were) was out of work for fifteeen years only to return to a very well paid career, after child rearing only. Single mothers without such a career suffer more than you can imagine and are sleeping rough some of them. This is not the Australian spirit of fair go by a long shot.

Can you see the single mothers are in one very specific way no different to that lawyer except for their career orientations/disciplines? Is your heart going to listen and understand this? I hope so, as I've put my heart into it.

The hands that rock the cradle are not always the original hands as we have learnt, and this is an Australian national shame. Not saying no adoptions, saying no to forced adoptions, and as said, not to welfare cuts to vulnerable anyone mothers and their babies or children included.

Give the nation a show of compassion for yourself and others and the same will follow for you with the party you lead.

A woman

Whoever is writing about focusing on the positives, you're invalidating the true reality forced adoptions is a very sad saga in Australian and other countries histories.
It's sad for those who went through it, allow then to feel it to eventualy let go of those terrible feelings of grief and loss.

There are lots of very sad things affecting people in Australia and abroad at this time. We can do our best to stop further carnage.

Don't invalidate that sadness, otherwise you're doing the same as they did before, denying, saying to the victims of forced adoptions "get over it, it's in the past.' That's invalidation of people's feelings. People's feelings are unique and all matter significantly if they are ever to heal a little or a lot.

The Inquiry was not intended to waste people's time with something not important enough to question and examine, with conscionable thoughtfulness, neither was any of the work done prior on this topic or in process.

Thanks for your time, hopefully understanding.

We know the governments are puppets for the very rich.
We know also there are no bigger or smaller people than anyone else in this world, we're all heading in the same direction.
We know, a lot of us, if we went to the CBD in any capital city we'd find a business hub of people hustling and bustling without time to even sign a petition let alone give you a minute regarding any social issue.
Let's get real there were very rich kids who lost to forced adoptions. They according to one commenter are from families who denied them other things aside from money we can only guess.
Forced adoptions is known to many because it happened to so very many and affected more than the immediate mothers and their babies.
In hope and with respect for all who are suffering because of forced adoptions.
No matter what dollars do they can't actually buy a loving family and friends.
They are meaningless to many because they came from money and saw what a strange world the very rich live in.
It can be lonely there, I know this too well that's why I make it a habit to know about diverse people and take a compassionate view of things like forced adoptions.
Babies taken against a mothers will is not just.
It's horrendous.
Langley

When people see or know about social injustices and say or do nothing (whether they be rich or otherwise) they are complicit in those social injustices.

There does appear to be a war on the poor in Australia at the moment

What's been said about the rich as if they are rich in all areas of their lives is trivia.

Amongst the rich you have survivors of forced adoptions.

There does appear to be a war on the poor in Australia at the moment. It's sad that so many get off on other people's suffering, more than sad, tragic.

Especially for these soulless and empty machines of people.

Keeping silent and invaliadting social issues because they may be painful to look at at first, is no excuse for complacency and apathy.

If the governments, many rich and well to do keep having wars on the poor our whole ethical framework will have eroded to the level of total decay and barbarism.

Compassion is something many rich people feel as they are no different in very basic ways to all of us.

They have to show they are actively doing their part in alleviating the barriers that prevent "lesser mortals" (in certain of their eyes perhaps) from evolving to their fuller potentials.

The article in New Matilda was an eye opener, so are forced adoptions.

If the Senate inquiry into forced adoptons and the apology set this month are tokenism, then this won't stop the survivors of forced adoptions fighting to become the best they can be in what they appear to want a decent, just and civil society where there is equality and humanity.

Idealism one might say, yet there's a lot to be said about having ideals and high standards for self and others.

Too many people aren't remaining silent whilst others are being badly treated, the numbers are growing fast.
See Change.Org
See GetUp.Org
See ... it goes on and on.

The people of Australia want a fairer and just society and I disagree that the masses don't know about forced adoptions by now. They may not be able to do anything tangible as yet in many instances, they do feel rightly indignant about all of it, many that is who don't get off on other people's suffering.

One thing that's noticeable 'Woman's Day' have not published one single thing on forced adoptions, and they're meant to be a women's rag. Not a mothers rag maybe?
Not that I read it, quite a few women especially with time on their hands do.

You have to fight for what's right whether you're rich or otherwise.

The rich are not exempt from being scrutinised, judged and penalised either, by the way.

The rich also lost babies to forced adoptions.

Money couldn't stop this catastophe happening.

It may have been one of the reasons for it, again that war on poverty or disadvantage of some kind.

This didn't stop rich kids losing their babies to strangers just as others did also.

To think the financially rich are all soulless or heartless is absurd and not truth.
What we don't hear about is how much is given to up the ante for those less fortunate by many of our rich.

I could name quite a few.

Don't think all the rich like what the governments in Australia are doing with their 'connections', not for a minute. Many are quietly socially and professionally active to prevent inequality in Australia.

They're not all neocons.

If and when forced adoptions have caused hardships for any of the survivors there is legal redress for that hardship.
We all know it's difficult to sue governments, it's not so difficult to sue the actual organisations who conducted the forced adoptions.

Hardship has happened to a lot of forced adoptions survivors or targets yet they have forged lives living under these hardships.
For this we can all say well done to them all for being able to withstand what most of us could not.
There are also very real wounds from froced adoptions and the number and nature of the submissions to the Senate doesn't go close to covering all of these.

Look to the law about what you personally have suffered as a consequence of your forced adoption experiences and don't hold back from being forward about the facts.
It's not hard to prove something so many people have now told the world they went through and with so many similarities.

I too read New Matilda's article about the single mother today, and the comments by others in her position.
There's a level of contempt that is staggering in these statements, contempt for women who are single and parenting child or children and on meagre benefits.
This disincentive to grow is something they need to think seriously about, it's creating a very obvious newsworthy lot of human interest stories that the public wont and don't ignore.

We need to move away from the false concept that the mothers choose to be single. Who would?

Lastly, someone I know had an apology for being treated dreadfully from Centrelink, and was told things had changed. It was too late of course the damage was done.
Centrelink noneless knew they were doing wrong by her.
She was a single mother.
She's in a very good position now so doesn't look back as yet.
However, her time when she was receiving a sole parents benefit was more than shocking and for this she did get an apology, long after the fact, by one of the soicla workers where she attended. The admission they had behaved badly toward her was made verbally, she did have someone with her. It hasn't as yet been followed through in any way, yet who knows what the future will bring, given she went through a living hell for a long time because of how they treated her.
It's good to have someone with you when you attend places like this.

So, they know what they're doing is wrong, unfair and penalising yet continue to do this again.

We can only imagine how the survivors/targets of forced adoptions would have got along had they been able to raise their babies during what the Senate Inquiry has investigated. Thank goodness for people like Gough Whitlam, we need another of the same ilk.

No one is Australia should be living in any hardship.
If anyone is and knows how this transpired they have every right to seek the law which is there to protect them, to rectify these situations.

There are several celebrity and other very well known people who give to charities and also to people suffering from hardships. There are philanthropists who do great work in Australia, and abroad, and do care about people living in hardship. Ask for help. They can only say no, and oftentimes don't.
It's worth looking out for the right links if and when you suffer any hardships.
Some 'charities' as we have learnt will treat you as a second class citizen, avoid them, go to the others.

You all have rights to a fair go in Australia.
Hradship for anyone, let alone a mother with a baby in Australia, is a no no.
Anpther hardship is when you are treated contemptuously or denied the right to grow further because you have one or more disabilities because of forced adoptions or similar.
The Disability laws in Australia are there to turn to as are disability lawyers, and as above.

Don't give up hope you are without the protection of the law too, as it's there not only for the rich it's there for us all.
Admittedly the law is considered to be made for and by the rich, however many lawyers come from anything but rich backgrounds and havent been twisted out of shape by their scholarly learnings, remaining true to their convictions and life knowledge, no one should be suffering hardships in Australia today. They have empathy they've been there themselves prior to any legal studies.

It's never about merely surviving, it's about thriving, and all who went through forced adoptions have every right to not only survive these very profoundly traumatic losses to also be compensated for the hardships they have caused you.

All the best to you finding the right fit people to help you grow and find resolutions to your pains and hardships.
Forced adoptons were extreme examples of more than inconvenience or simple loss. As are the ways Centrelink are treating people they claim they are there to assist to grow, when they are doing everyting, it seems, to disadvantage them if they manage to rise even a little.
Shame on the Commonwealth government for this also.
You gain more from anyone by giving them incentives than taking them away.

No one can take away hope from people no matter how they try, and so many today are so desperate of spirit they are tring this on. This is further tragedy, ultimately for those treating the poor with contempt where it doesn't belong.
It certainly takes away the focus from the wrong doers at the top end of town, or at least the Commonwealth wrongly think it does.
Mothers are there for a lifetime to be available to their children, and children need care. The mothers also need care so they can mother. It's not rocket science.

Apologies, that's all they ever are, apologies.
People who do wrong and cause hardships for others have to pay and they eventually do, I've seen it every time.

Concerned and actively helping Gus

Causing hardships to anyone is a form of violence.
It's not that everyone has to actively pursue knowing everything about politics, how could they.
We all have priorities to address, and not all have an interest in 'the dirty business of politics' even as we try to keep uptodate on what's what and whos who of politics, of course
Causing hardships to anyone is a form of violence against these persons.
More could take an interest in self awareness and thereby other awareness, which is to do with humanity.

"To all those who've paid with their happiness, sanity or lives the price of psychological ignorance, may it encourage in others the self awareness to prevent such tragedies. Why pay the price and not get the goods".

Therapy is what we should all be looking at, not simply politics.
Narcissists don't usually go to therapy, they're a bit like the neocons, all in it for themselves without any self awareness or fellow feeling.

Healing happens when we acknowledge we need to look in the mirror and those who do massive wrongs are included most of all.

Something you wrote just doesn't make sense:

"If people take no interest in politics, they have themselves to blame for all the misery it produces".

Do you mean governments create misery and politics is there for this reason?

What on earth does this " ..... " statement mean?

Did the young pregnant teenagers think about politics when they were in that condition, I don't think so, except the politics of very very basic survival under extremely harsh conditions.

In context of forced adoptions what does this statement mean?

We individually choose whether we want to be involved in politics or would rather be involved in other matters.
We're free to choose what our interests are.

Clarity is very good. We need it here with all the chaos of what happened in forced adoptions scenarios.

If I've misunderstood, thanks for the clarity, I'm open and at very least appreciate your input.

Thanks.

Acnowledged indeed, one could starve to death in Australia waiting for the law to help one.
There are a lot of very rich law firms who will only deal with cases that involve millions.
That's their craziness and greed.
That they do so little if any pro bono is also their big issue. Shame on them for their well known greed.
Little do these law firms know how much the public know which ones they are.
Don't starve to death going to these kinds of lawyers go to those who are there for you pro bono, and with understanding of your 'hardships'.
If you can't do that go to people who are going to give you enough to eat so you don't live on peanuts and have to half starve. Veer away from those who will only give you a loaf of stale bread though, there are quite a few of these around, you're worth a whole lot more.
Keep trying, persevere, it's everything at this time.
No one should be starving to death in Australia.
I feel pity and disgust for those law firms who earn millions and don't do enough pro bono because they might lose a further million or so.
I also feel pity and disgust for those law firms who make them selves celebrities by showing off what good they do for one or two richer refugees amd yet neglect all others because they think they wouldn't look so good, by whoever's standards. They are well known to a lot of us just who they are, especially those of us with legal connections as in relatives friends etc.
Sure, law firms are not all very nice people at all.
We've all or many of us have come across at least one nasty one on our way to wherever we're going.

Notice also, how some lawyers will switch from a Labor focused law firm to a Liberal focused law firm dependiing on what government is in office.
Yes, there are political ties with lawyers. Not all.
Get to know a good lawyer, they're around.

Good points except no one's a little person.

I believe what that man or woman said about "no one is any bigger or smaller than another, we're all heading in the same direction". It's so true.

Small people is too derogatory to anyone.

Power speak want people to feel small so they can feel big, but it just don't cut the mustard with what I've learnt in life.

Regarding how many can buy "the best" lawyers I wish that were true for a few I know right now who do have "the best lawyers" and are still not being given justice.
As a matter of fact they are suffering intolerable injustices, no matter how hard their well paid lawyers and time is costing them.

The court system is not good with people who seek no win no fee services and have to wait, understood.

This shouldn't be so, isn't always, though for you or someone you know it must be, that's terrible.

Regarding politics and voting, there are the apathetic who don't care about what governments do or put people through.

There are those also who care but presently see how both major parties are very much alike in many ways so it's hard choosing and what's a vote in a way.

One thing for sure conservatives don't want to see people playing on a level field.
There are other means to get your voice heard in this world as voting doesn't really give you that.

Voting's the limited input the people can put into politics.

Writing letters can be handy at times, at other times you can receive no responses, depending on who you write too.

Local members, councilors and reps. from other places can stand your ground some times.

Certain newspapers and news media will accept stories about hardships with a lot of things; turning to journalists who are ethical to put your voice out there.

Online media now reaches vast audiences, so you can have a say about what's happened and be read so enough people understand or begin to understand your plight or those of others you stand up for.

It's true money can buy you a good lawyer who will pursue your case more vigorously than another, on the one hand, on the other, some no win no fee (pro bono) lawyers do just as good at other times, sometimes better.

I wish you well with your patience.

The law is difficult to understand let alone have to be involved in to arrive at some resolution or verdict.

All the best anything but "little" person.

I don't believe in any "average" aussie.

I think everyone has something which lifts them and gives them a unique presence in this world, that's what I meant.

I understand hardship from several experiences so am empathic and with compssion.
Just as I believe "In the Adult world (not any other world) there are no smaller or bigger people than others".

The Howard government (Liberal) initially drafted the Northern Territory Intervention. The Labor party definitely implemented it all.

It is not so nice knowing we still have the rippling effects of both Howard/Bush governments continuing.

That's what I meant by what's the difference now between these two specific governments.

However, usually the Liberals are meaner of spirit toward the vulnerable, and I guess that's how the original draft happened.

The Liberals definitely had a lot to do with forced adoptions as the whole tearing vulnerable families apart at any cost, so that (presumably) costs will be saved is their way usually.

They are not all the same, each politician; it's the culture of it all.

There are those who stand up for right, the few.

I wish I could say who at this time??

Regarding single parents and their vulnerabilities.

Whosoever demeans a mother with a baby or child or even an adult child has a great deal to answer for.

It's an amazing role to play and one which demands such potent strong personalities.
May feel vulnerable, may be vulnerable dealing with drongos who follow their leaders like sheep, however, there's a basic strength there.

That strength has surfaced again with the way so many 'mothers' have got up and taken a stand against forced adoptions, from the pioneers who did it humbly or splendidly to the individuals with supports and groups who continue this work.

For all who have any vulnerabilities know these are counterbalanced by strengths, which you alone (with help of course when needed) can raise.

Personally I admit I'm sickened literally at today's climate of contemopt for the battlers, the vulnerable, the freedom fighters. (Freedom to create and grow I mean.)

I literally have to take an anti nausea tablet to abate this.

That's my issue which I'm resolving with help.

I can't change the world as ugly as some of it is and yet when I hear people like your sweet self talk of how you are smaller I feel a depth of wanting to say "You matter, you too are on a significant journey in life, don't give up the good fight for your own survival and I hope and trust thriving". If you're a single mother always protect your own positive space, and know you deserve care as much as your baby or child does.

That some politicians and the many bureaucrats don't get this, and have short changed sole parents, that's something they alone take to the grave with them.

What a shameful situation to place vulnerable ones in.

We speak up when we hear women and children are killed by wars, yet here in Australia the governments are allowing a form of killing by cutting back meagre benefits and pensions.

Yes, as Eva Cox said, "it started with the intervention."
See: New Matilda (online).

She's a force to be reckoned with that wise and amazing woman.

Wonder = Miracles

People can have a change of heart, some whom we least expect, and where there's this understanding there's hope.

Thanks

I understand.
I wish you comfort, safety, hope and recognition.
A whole lot more as would heal any vulnerabilities you or anyone you know have.
I and no doubt others appreciate what you've expressed.

I agree it does look like dog eat dog. For many it is, not all.
I believe many of us however are not inclined that way.
We believe in the value of life, even when we are torn with despair at the horrendous things happening around us, or to our loved ones, and us.
If you need my apology I give it sincerely.
I respect grandfatherhood, as I have a father and a grandfather. I respect men and women as equals.
I'm amazed at the comments that come forward on this post.
It's as if people are realising cooperation is far stronger and more relevant than competition.
Helpful and considerate fellow feeling is more helpful than penalising, punishing conducts or acts.
Aggressive hostility toward anyone is not on, not anymore.
Oppression or hurt of those in vulnerable positions is not on either.
And, ageism is out the ethical doors that say "Back off".
Yes, being a grandfather would place you in a position to have wisdom and understanding and to know about hardships, and also as you say when "fair go" meant just that.
The politicians needed to hear your voice. I'm so appreciative to hear it and I'm not a potlitician, with no inclination to that leaning.

Thank you.
If I should apologise I certainly do.
I respect people who speak from the heart with mindfulness.
I have been feeling very aged lately my self, as if I have a very serious terminal illness I am denying, and avoiding.
I'll be chceking with a doctor to see what this is about.. yet know I have taken on the sadnesses of the world far too much.
I now need to pretiect my positive space, and wish you to protect yours.
May you have gentle and wonderful peace of mind, knowing justice inevitably does happen.
Think of Watergate. Think of the gates that will be exposed, whether those involved wish this so or not.
There are a few gates that are about to be exposed, or already have been just not in the news media as yet.

It's about healing ultimately, and thank you for being so compassionate toward the survivors of forced adoptions.
You are not alone, as you well know.

Gratitude = Grace

That's so true about journalism then and now.
No compassion for single parents and unmarried mothers.
The Women's Weekly has one article about forced adoptions, just one meagre piece.
The other women's mags have nothing. All about adoptions, nothing about having compassion for mothers who also need love and care, as do their babies.
Shame on journalism.
I wonder what the Pilger's of the world think of all this, if they think about it at all.
There is a war on the poor in Australia at present.
They're cutting back on health and education like you wouldn't believe.
Don't want people to grow.
I disagree, it will not simply be an aplogy and then "forget".
There's more to come.

Cheryl

Thanks for the mention of the book The Compassionate Mind By that Paul guy.
Unfortunately the author, or one of them as he was so confused of mind had to get a decipherer, is a red wine addict and a jerk.
He calls mothers who lose babies mothers who have "unwanted" babies.
He's right with the pro-adoption league and got his first wisdom from economics and the like.
This guy is one fool whose tried unsuccessfully to show compassion to himself, and told his life story a lot.
If only we didn't know who was on one of his major told Committees who he associated with.
He's one hell of a confused, head in chaos man, with contradictions all through his book.
He's also someone whose into working above all else.
At one point he openly admits how crude he is with his own wife.
Not a good read for anyone needing compassion for themselves after such a tragically profound loss of loved and wanted infants. Not for those who value clarity of mind, and don't need help to have this.

There are good books about this topic, and think a psychologist with heart is the way to go.
Something about this guys negativity toward unmarried mothers who do want their infants put me right off.

I can forgive my self for being married to a man who is an adoptee whose treated me a bit roughly and I allowed it. I go to therapy for this and it's all good.
He's been in a successful reunion, had a terrible time with his adoptive parents, thanks to government policies.
They will apologise to look good only.
They want their power, and their jobs, don't give a damn about the birth mothers and the children.
That's something they have to live with, paltry lot of miserable souls.

Jane

the forthcoming apology will find a lot of people feeling mixed things.
It's a difficult time for the survivors of forced adoptions, as they wait for this.
I tend to agree it will be tokenism and not an authentic apology, may be surprised.
Whatever way we all know politicians are voted in by the people and are there or meant to be there for the people (forced adoptions survivors included) however are really wanting to do best by themselves, unfortunately.
It's a sad thing the politicians don't understand their duty of care as being in power is one of the highest duties of care, yet they are very careless.

I'm all support for the survivors of forced adoptions, as are my contemporaries.
Charles
You will have your way and justice does eventually arrive.$

As a friend and colleague of a survivor of forced adoptions, and as a student I think there should be much more than a pitiful apology.
I can't imagine how my friend is really feeling, know she's going through a lot of trauma with the apology, and this is normal.
She's worked so hard to make sense of this profoundly tragic set of circumstances.
One thing I know, all the social science and psychology students I know are looking at how we can help and not only our colleague and friend.
Best to all and hope the apology is not tokenism.
They're pretty stupid if it is.
The people do know about this topic all too well as it impacted many thousands, I'd say millions counting relatives, lives in Australia.

Thanks to all.
Brett

Forced adoptions are intolerable and all I know are actively doing our bit to support in many ways including legal when necessary those we know affected by these tragedies.

An apology is too little and a lot late.
However take the positives from it and leave the rest to own their own.
The Salvation Army at least gave one amazing woman an ask for her forgiveness, this is really what the Commonwealth government should be doing rather than a simplistic apology. Knowing this woman she deserves a whole lot more too, yet it was decent.
They haven't apologized or asked for everyone's forgiveness to their shame, that's their issue.
That asking for your forgiveness is a deeper level of acknowledgement, a more serious level.

Bill
Student

Raising awareness as the "grandpa" did that most Australians are living "poorly" is very important.

It's not just one man's opinion, the cost of living and all that's happened politically has caused many to live beneath their dignities.

This is part of forced adoptions shame, and part of the national government's shame.
I don't exclude the State and Territory governments.

Give the apology as an ask for forgiveness, what a very good idea.

There's no substance or humanity in a simple too often said after the fact of tragedies "Sorry".

Do we ask those who committed crimes against humanity in Auschwitz to say "sorry"?
Don't think so.

Where you've done irreparable damage the governments have a lot they need to think about.

I believe a Royal Commission should be conducted into forced adoptions.

I think the givernment should realise just how poorly most Australians are "surviving" and would a change of government help. np.

They're both the same, out for their own ends.

Mel

I've just found out GetUp.Org have no interest and have said and done nothing re. forced adoptions.

They champion themselves for just causes, and state they are this and that when in fact they ignore you if you write to them etc.

GetUp.Org might be doing some positive things somehow I think they're really focused on a few social issues only.

When a friend of mine mentioned Forced adoptions to them they didn't even have the decency to respond, yet they keep churning out notices to her about everything they are into.

We live in a very selfish, narcissistic and cruel world, why else would forced adoptions have not got attention when it went on and as the Inquiry progressed.
It got little attention besides from here I reckon. It still needs a lot more attention and media.

Look into who you associate with and find out their real motives though that's me saying what I do.

I'm tired of children playing games and asking others to join, am looking for some adults who tell it as it is and are never silent amidst others hardships.

It makes me very sad to know the majority of Australians are struggling. This tells everybody what a lot of intolerable injustices are going on in Australia.

Regarding forced adoptions, the apology is not the only recommendation in the Senate Inquiry Report, and they all should be followed through.

The journalist who said they'll apologise and then forget, I think they'd like to and can't.

Too right this deserves a Royal Commission now, forced adoptions.

Look how many it affected how varied all these people are. Almost all of us are in a way related distantly or closely to somebody affected by forced adoptions in Australia. That's pretty terrible.

To the journalist who wrote so strongly I think you still should be writing, we need people like you to be active. You have empathy.

Best to the survivors of forced adoptions, you have my absolute sincere support.

Brendan

GetUp.Org have no interest then keep asking and get what you want from other sources.
We don't have a culture of asking in Australia.

I trully believe we are beginning to have a culture of giving.

I don't think the majority of Australians are "disempowered, disadvantaged and poor".
I (and ACOSS etc) know there are far more than what the mainstream news and polticians want us to know about.

I'm tired of things like forced adoptions being trivialised, whether this be in a short and sweet apology only or similar, whether it be about the poor needing to "work harder".

Those of us who do care know most everyone wants to work hard and does, however there are many people without that opportunity and not because they are bad, wrong or lacking the will to work and do well. All want to.

The Conversation talks about how those who are poor lack decision making skills and that's how they arrive poor.

This is stuff and nonsense, yet so is the conversation as a rule.

For those who are struggling with forced adoptions and finding it hard to make ends meet ask, ask the philanphropists how they can help you grow.

Ask the governments for what you want.

Ask the churches who did the wrong things to set it right for you.

Keep asking.

You gave without your consent living and loveable babies to strangers, now it's your turn to start asking for what you need. That loss was what I consider, as is seen do others, one of the most profoundly tragic losses I've ever heard of.

If anyone expects you to give for nothing again, take advantage of you, walk the other way, you've paid too high a price.

Also you're not a consumer, you're a client at any counselling sessions. Some deadbeat brought in the nasty word "consumer" for health services, wrong, wrong, won't last long. You birth mothers and babies were consumed and treated like commodities, to the nation's shame.

Good luck and persevere with the asking for help when you need it. Don't stop 'till you are in a place of safety, financial and other security plus peace of mind.

Mia

I wasn't going to write about this it follows from what I've read.
Saying the poor have little valuable decision making skills is yet again blaming the poor.
The politicians who make decisions, make the policiies, for say the Northern Territory Intervention, the Single Parents Benefits, the Disability Pensions, the Unemployment Benefits, and time ago Forced Adoptions had and have very poor decision making skills. So did and do the churches too often.
So poor they throw masses into poverty, not the other way around.
So do the nation's outsourced employment agencies who churn their clients in and out of dead end jobs and end up leaving them for dust to poverty, usually more than these tryers so hard had prior.

I liked reading what Change.Org have said.
It makes sense.

Because I have the means and want to I regularly take out a woman who is a survivor (just) of forced adoptions.
I see her doing everything she can herself to try and make a go of her really interesting life being constantly astounded at the takers who try it on with her so often.
If say she asked any of those takers for help she would get a straight and cold no.
So think asking for help is fine if you ask the right people. She didn't have to ask me I am there for her and not out of pity, she's too evolved for that.

It's not idealism to want to see equality in Australia it's straight and clear thinking. Why shouldn't we have this, we're a rich nation.
Those who can't and don't share their own good fortune invite on themselves a lot of misery of a non-monetary kind. Their greed, narcissism and cruelty is outrageous.

I think if everyone who knew a survivor/s of forced adoptions extended themselves to help they wouldn't have to ask for this. Many of us have friends or family who are.

It's time to change to sharing good fortune, this does include more philanthropists giving, not to the "recognised" charities, too often most of that goes to admin and other costs again neglecting the ones they're meant to help.
This also includes many more law firms doing their share of pro bono work.

How can anyone living on very basic anything have the means without help to make long term decisions in their own best interets when they're mostly told what to do, rather than given the empowerment to do what they do best with gusto. This doesn't mean they have bad decision making skills, it means they're not at liberty to make decisions for themselves as these are imposed on them, as were forced adoptions.

When those of us have wealthy means we each and all need to share these. There's no other way to balance the scales of social injustices in Australia. There are many ways of doing this. We're here to share and care, not leave the poor or disadvantaged to tragic fates.

We're here to help or hinder each other, which do we choose when we know about what's going on here?
I've chosen to help the best ways I can, this extends beyond my friend whose survived forced adoptions.

We can all play a valuable part in alleviating the inequality in Australia. This goes without saying.

Basically forced adoptions were imposed on rich, middle class and poor unmarried mothers and their babies.
The prejudice was based on the unmarried status of the mothers.
There's a large difference between Forced Adoptions of mainly anglo saxon children (babies) and the plight of the Aboriginals.

I think all should be compensated, not for the same reasons.
One thing each of these does have in common is they were and are social injustices of a very large magnitude impavting far more than has been told to date.

It's time to stop comparing different Australian injustices.
That's like comparing individuals with each other, it can't be done, and shouldn't.

I'm very proud of the independent women who took a stand with forced adoptions and understand how much they've put into its resolution for the many.
By the way as GetUp.Org ignored one potent and creative woman, and they are alligned with Change.org I'm hesitant to say they're with all the right motives.
On the outside it looks so. If they ignore even one member it's telling.
They do stand up for a few just causes, and I think they have the best interests of many at heart. I'm investigating just who each are.

Thanks
Best wishes to the individual survivors all of you not one generic same personalities at all.

Fiona

As far as I can find out the Budhist religion has no adoption servies or agencies.
I noticed when reading a friends copy of The Compassionate Self Budhism was mentioned quite a bit. That's enocuraging.
Also at least one religion doesn't torture mothers and their babies with punitive losses which never should be, though the authors don't even mention adoptions except to write wrongly there are "unwanted babies".
There are, unplanned babies, not unwanted babies.

My understanding is many Australians are turning to Budhist religion, rather than the others. (Otherwise Philosophy of their choice.)
"My religion is kindness" by the Dalai Lama
It's mine too. I've given to this cause and will whenever I can.

We need kindness for forced adoption mothers and their babies.
We need it for other social injustices perpetrators that do immense damage and can't find it in their souls to make amends.

Off to some light theatre, need a distraction from the horrors of the world.

It's true we can give ourselves some conselation and compansation by attending the Arts.
The Artists and Arts are our links to humanity.
Where we find ugliness as one person said, we can find beauty in artist's creations.
(Forced adoptions are ugly.)
Where I speak of these creations I don't include deliberately fabricated and cowboy violent television, films, theatre and other arts.
The latter includes shows like big brother that pit one person or people against another or others. How skanky and competitive these shows are.
Not that thinking people watch them.

Artists and the arts are vitally needed to ensure humanity, show humanity, it's truths as well as it's beauty.

I believe those survivors of forced adoptions who aren't artists would gain some healing by allowing themselves time out to appreciate the work of our artists.
Ditto everyone would.
Hope the Minister for the Arts in Australia is with self awareness and understands the true nature of Artists and the Arts in Australia. The funding for these is not so good.
Why not? Want to have a lot of depressed, uncultured citizens in Australia or what? My colleagues and I certainly don't want this.
We like "kindness" (also the Dalia Lama) and "humanity".

The arts should be available for pleasure to all people in Australia, the sooner we integrate it into the uncivilised, uncultured, underprivileged people's lives the better.
We can do this is very creative ways, quite a few have begun this process. It will continue.

For those artists who are consistently living on the fringes because of green eyed monsters who would like to have their gifts but are too afraid to even see if they have any talents, or plain old wrong priorities shame on Australia for putting these artists in any badlands of impoverishment or disadvantage of any kind.
I know so many great artists who are living below the poverty line. Their work continues without remuneration for various reasons, not least the politics involved in the Australian Arts Scene, which is a sham.

I also see regularly innovative arts spaces closing including and not only visual arts galleries. Shame again to those who hold positions to support these spaces, people and neglect their creative responsibilities.
Not to many Artists are business model agents, and they need support and sponsorships to survive and thrive.

One final point.
Visual Artists I know have been paid in the past to create beautiful shop front windows. They've also done this for charitiy reasons (no pay) when they so chose.
Now we find they have to pay, and high prices, to have their works displayed in many shopfronts. What's going on here is exploitation of a kind, more than that, it's bad politics.
This is the business model gone awry and wrong.
Window dressing (or merchandising as some call it) is a paid occupation, even for artists with foundations down.
Whoever started this trend has a lot of contempt for window dressers and those who are artists who once did this as a side kick for income they deserved or even as a livlihood. Some artists do this, not only visual artists.

Basic point is everyone needs the artists and arts to live in a civil and cultured society, and as the commenter said prior, it gives us all reprieve from the pressures and horrors of life always.
Get me to the theatre, I need it tonight, my wife's berating me something shocking for not doing the washing up, ha.
Adoptee

I'm a forced adoption survivor and I've had that experience of being denied access to arts exposures because they are asking people to pay for window spaces in unsophisticated shops. They're not galleries so shouldn't ask for hefty fees just to have Artists works in their windows. They should be paying the Artists.

I once gave enormously to Artists in shopfronts for the Taylor Square Arts Festival, this all was done for charitable reasons, the exposure was secondary.

I'm well known so don't need all that much exposure, however, work is work, and I need it like everyone else does.

I think a few administrators and councillors have no idea of the value of the arts, as I think don't the government ministers who are on the throne with the funding for the arts in Australia.

It's a sad reflection on the government again, as is forced adoptions.

009

GetUp.Org is very good and had previously a helmsman named Simon who worked tirelessly for just causes.
It's wrong someone from there didn't respond about forced adoptions.
Now you can make your own petitions for whatever causes you want to via GetUp.Org or their offshoot Change.Org and be proactive.
They are decent people.
The fact they ignored one or more letters from their members is a bit rough, they're too busy to respond is never good enough.
The Prime Minister does this all the time.
They have to walk the talk in many ways, and can only say they didn't respond or "listen" because they inadvertantly thought their time was more valuable than whoever sent them advice about forced adoptions.

My husband and I fully support forced adoptions survivors and know a very charming mother who went through this to our great horror.
We're there for her and she has a lot of other social supportive friends. What a thing to be able to transcend even enough to survive in basic ways.
She's very individual an identity well known for her civilised, cultured nature, what we call a multi talented urban sophisticate, despite or maybe because of what she's been through. We don't know. We do know she suffers a lot of anguish and pain regarding the forced adoption she went through.
We want justice for her and her contemporaries in this matter.

GetUp could have taken on board whatever was suggested about forced adoptions, I don't understand why they haven't.

My husband and I are members of GetUp.Org and find them very good.
Hope they can help survivors of forced adoptions. It would be timely.
Potters

A lot of books have been written by people who are survivors of forced adoptions. I've been told this by one of my professors.

As an adoptee I want to be able to get to them and read up.

They're just not freely available at libraries, and neither can I buy them at bookshops.

I'm wondering why they're so "secret" and not published by the kind of publishers who put the books out there in the public domain.

What's going on with this area of the arts as far as forced adoptions are concerned?
I'm doing my masters, this whole Inquiry has raised a lot of mixed emotions for me and my focus is not good.

I think reading some material from the horse's mouth so to speak would help me.

Anyone with clues to how to purchase books by actual survivors would be appreciated.

I'd also like to know more about why the minister for the arts in Australia is so slack with the arts in all areas.

I've noticed how a theatre near where I live is struggling to get bums on seats, whilst money is definietly there to fund the arts. It's there to end poverty in Australia for good. I'm studying this.

It's also there to fund unmarried mothers with their pensions.

What country's government takes money away from pensioners in such mercenary ways?
This along with forced adoptions has me outraged.

An apology is not enough. I'm outraged at what I'm learning about Australian politics, mining and a whole lot more which is close enough if not plain corruption.

Is that why Clover lost her second job because she was close to the truth about a lot of undemocratic things happening in Australia?

Shame on Gillard and Abbott, two bullies they are, too right.

Kevin