Senate inquiry into forced adoptions found barbaric, horrific abuses

Lynne writes like an "I'm always right" person.
She tries to put other points of views down. Lynne's comments confuse me and my family, there's no clarity there.
This isn't all about what you alone think Lynne, yet you're allowed freedom of speech like everyone else maybe stop the putdowns of persons who are probably your allies yet can't understand all you have to say, even as we want to be able to.

Abi(gail)

My wife and I watched the Nuremberg Trials 1945/1949 and they do have some similarities to the inquiries and what's been shown to the public via 4 Corners, all the so called professionals trying it on with their evasiveness and flagrant lies.
Vetted, true.
For the sake of ABC's integrity I think the Media Laws may only allow certain things even as this is a form of censorship, intolerable for truth media, they probably had to take 'Given or Taken?' to television that way.
No excuses as there are ways around this.
The programme did have good exposure of birth mothers tormenting and sad to watch.
I defend what the comments rightly say about this covering up and lies, it does happen on television and other news medie, in this instance clear to the thinking man.
The trouble with a lot of that kind of media is this Vetted when we all want to see the bullys accountable in this context for the outrageous numbers and traumas of forced adoptions.
I take my hat off to the targets of forced adoptions and their stories have moved many people.
The untold ones will emerge many may not as 'secrecy on a more traumatic level' was commanded of the targets I think' sadly. Simply though tragically saying 'It's in the past let it go' stopped a lot of targets moving on and voicing their lived horrors. That's an injustice in itself.
Australia isn't good with grief, unlike some Eastern countries where there are processes. That's an issue Australia has.
In hope the Report does the targets justice as individuals with human rights and clear justification for reparations authentically made.
Cheers
Ricky

For the targets of forced adoptions.
I pass on my condolences and facts.

There are several laws that have been broken in the practices of Forced Adoptions.
Herewith are a few in layman's terms with some cross overs for forced adoptions targets:

* Minors signatures obtained for loss of their born infants unlawfully
* Signatures obtained for loss of infants under the influence of coercive medical and often non-recommended treatments.
* Drugs including Stilboestral (DES) given to patients as de-lactate when the drug company neither recommended nor endorsed this form of usage. i.e. as a de-lactate
* Gross negligence of mothers and their infants; lack of due care/duty of care of patients whilst in maternity hospital care
* Prolonged and extreme physical and psychological harm inflicted (torture) on maternity and post natal patients. (the records often show extremely long in "care" in these hospitals and also the homes.)
* Conscious Discrimination on the basis of marital status
* Deliberate isolation of targets from their support peers, family and other social networks
* Physical and psychological damage due to practices being punitive and less than professional
* Natural mothers being denied flagrantly and abusively seeing let alone holding and feeding their own born infants.

For those in public maternity homes or hospitals where they were asked to perform unpaid duties for their "care" as above plus:
* Unpaid laundry labour of minors in physical state of pregnancy and afterwards
* Unpaid feeding of other people's babies and other such duties
* Unpaid cleaning floors and kitchen duties

The fact Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has said publicly "If they weren't illegal they were certainly unethical" is what television tells you.
However, there were illegal actions in Forced Adoptions that are being examined.

Thanks
Gerard
Law

The targets of Forced adoptions may have found the 4 corners program "Given or Taken?" traumatic.
This would be normal and healthy even as it would affect them adversely.
Why? Because the targets who appeared on the show were speaking truths, and a few were outright covering their trails, or trying too.
Reality is those who lied or covered up have that right to do so. This may have awoken or further distressed with some justifiable anger from the targets, and that's a healthy response to this injustice. Feel it, and then understand it's not yours really, it belongs to the abusers and wrong doers who did break laws.
However, and there's no doubt about this, ultimately they face the consequences of their lies, deceit and cover ups.
It's uncanny someone has written about laws being broken today, yes of course that was made clear on that program (covertly and not by intention from ABC.)
It's important for the targets not to be again "hurt" "further damaged" by these deceivers, who lie to cover themsleves legally, they are going to face consequences, just give it some time.
The Graphic images painted by the target who is an artist, as well as the other targets stories traumatised a close friend of mine who has experienced this social injustice and immoral, illegal processes.
She has a lot of supports to aid her healing so it's all going to be fine for her, yet I wonder about others without these.
They, that is ABC 4 Corners didn't show a major player the Salvation Army who as Dr. Rickarby wrote in his Submission Report was akin to the Catholic Church and their "maternity hospitals" in their numerous (very large numbers) "sins" against these very vulnerable unmarried mothers and their infants. I use the word sins meaning illegal acts.
At the same time this program really created a lot of anguish for my friend it also enabled her to see she was right in all her efforts to raise this issue which was once said to be raised and has not until now in truth.
For the evaders of truth Consequences happen, I've seen it again and again, professionally in my practice and outside.
It's better the abusers and wrong doers be accountable on television but no one can make them be this.
We all can watch as this unfolds and see the consequences of their lies, coverups and savage abuses of biological mothers and their infants.

Cheers
Carl

The targets of Forced adoptions may have found the 4 corners program "Given or Taken?" traumatic.
This would be normal and healthy even as it would affect them adversely.
Why? Because the targets who appeared on the show were speaking truths, and a few were outright covering their trails, or trying too.
Reality is those who lied or covered up have that right to do so. This may have awoken or further distressed with some justifiable anger from the targets, and that's a healthy response to this injustice. Feel it, and then understand it's not yours really, it belongs to the abusers and wrong doers who did break laws.
However, and there's no doubt about this, ultimately they face the consequences of their lies, deceit and cover ups.
It's uncanny someone has written about laws being broken today, yes of course that was made clear on that program (covertly and not by intention from ABC.)
It's important for the targets not to be again "hurt" "further damaged" by these deceivers, who lie to cover themsleves legally, they are going to face consequences, just give it some time.
The Graphic images painted by the target who is an artist, as well as the other targets stories traumatised a close friend of mine who has experienced this social injustice and immoral, illegal processes.
She has a lot of supports to aid her healing so it's all going to be fine for her, yet I wonder about others without these.
They, that is ABC 4 Corners didn't show a major player the Salvation Army who as Dr. Rickarby wrote in his Submission Report was akin to the Catholic Church and their "maternity hospitals" in their numerous (very large numbers) "sins" against these very vulnerable unmarried mothers and their infants. I use the word sins meaning illegal acts.
At the same time this program really created a lot of anguish for my friend it also enabled her to see she was right in all her efforts to raise this issue which was once said to be raised and has not until now in truth.
For the evaders of truth Consequences happen, I've seen it again and again, professionally in my practice and outside.
It's better the abusers and wrong doers be accountable on television but no one can make them be this.
We all can watch as this unfolds and see the consequences of their lies, coverups and savage abuses of biological mothers and their infants.

Cheers
Carl

If you look up Sydney Morning Herald February 28th 2012
there is journalism by Bevan Shields.
It's content is about coerced adoptions and a doctor admitting publicly IT WAS THE MOST HORRIFIC THING I'VE EVER SEEN.
The doctor doesn't tell the reader what hospital he was working at as a young intern, or newly registered one.
I'm horrified at all the truths conscionable people are finally talking about.
The Report is at minimal a beginning to acknowledgement.
Senator Rachel Siewert seems to understand a lot about the truths, good on her too.
Thanks Indymedia and best to all who were horrified to say the least as victimised in this scandalous Australian recent history.

The journalism that recounts coerced adoptions in Sydney Morning Herald 28/2/2012 was titled 'A Nations Shame'.
What is the Australian Nation going to do about all this today?
An apology, an exhibition, and a bit more acknowledgement of wrong, is this tokenism when we're dealing with a National shame as this is by now too many principled, thinking people's admissions.

I want to extend my respect to all the female Senators who have publicly spoken up with compassion and principled speeches about the Inquiry and also the Report.
Whatever party they belong to I am moved by their credible words especially Greens Senator Rachel Siewerts, yet not hers alone.
The words are very good and now acting on these prinicipled meaningful words is the need.
Best wishes to all affected by recent past atrocities in coerced adoptions.
I understand the inquiry would have for many unleashed further a lot of anguish, as the truth of it all is painful most of all for the targets.
This may be why the submissions were not as many as there could have been. Some are traumatised by the collective abuses they didn't know were so multidimensional and multinumbered.
May this also be considered and healed to extent it can be via present and future principled, compassionate active supports and conscionable deeds towards these persons.
They individually and collectively deserve this.

There are so many lessons for us all with this Inquiry into Forced Adoptions.
I believe at least one for the targets is now you have choices and do not ever have to accept whatever circumstances befall you.

My desire for you all is to be empowered and thoroughly supported in ways you never were before now.

To all those who are stuck or have been taken back to that place of 'humiliation' of which Dr. Geoff Rickarby wrote about in his Senate Inquiry Submission Excerpts from NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Adoption Practices, Inquiry into Past Adoption Practices time ago, I send you my deepest condolences and wish your traumatic effects eased by the knowing no one can try anything like that kind, or any, of wrong doing on you again, and may you be able to move out beyond that stage of grief and tell all so called 'authorities' if they ever try to hurt or harm you 'Back off' and they'd better understand you mean it, because you can now say it with justifiable authority.

Like some other individuals Dr. Geoff Rickarby was ahead of his times and we all owe him and those others our gratitude for truth being unveiled so the world now knows about this part of Australian history.

By asking the forced adoptions targets to sign consent forms to lose their born babies, even when often enough the birthing girls and women already had these signed by their parents or legal guardians, this abled the social workers and nurses to misplace disgustingly and abominably their own Guilt onto the targets. It was supposedly then 'not of or out of their hands'.
I'd say a lot of the shame and guilt the targets felt for so long and too many still do, could be ridded by this informed knowledge.
There is no place for any of the targets to feel Guilt.
This is one several psychological and factual reasions the targets may need to look at and get rid of, through counselling and whatever professional and other supports they have, any Guilt that lead to Shame. Though other factors caused the vulnerable mums to feel wrongly placed shame also.
Guiltmongers thrived and survived on these young women, that's one of their unconscionable shames not the targets.
Cheers
Abi(gail)

The Senate Report February 2012 clearly shows how many are still unable to tell the truth about their involvement and knowing what is right and what is wrong.
This is it's downfall even as there are vital truths there too.
The perpetrators cannot as yet own their wrong doing and for this they will face consequences.
What some have said in the Senate Report (the perpetrators) reflects once again what others have written about "Displacing guilt" especially, once again displacing blame and shame, and this has consequnces ultimately.
The Report has a lot in it and is not that long for people to obtain copies and read for themselves.
One of my closest has gone into a traumatic state of staring into space as a consequence of seeing 4 Corners and reading this Report.
This is being professionally treated yet shows me how traumatic this very profound traumatic loss is to a natural mother and probably her natural child also.

The Report is valuable to read for all concerned however it's unclear and well noted how some religious and corporate organisations often one and the same have not apologised. Only several have and with limited apologies and I site the Benevolent Society in the latter.
Once again there are consequences for their lack of accountability, lies, cover ups and in some instances silence that covers them only until they are uncovered by further examinations.

James
Solicitor

The Senate *Report* February 2012 website is found at:

www.aph.gov.au/.../Senate_Committees?...forcedadoptions/report/re...

If this doesn't find you the Report it's available via Google or Yahoo under Senate Committees Parliament of Australia February 2012.

Cheers
James
Solicitor

For James.
There is a lot written about states where a person goes numb or into the stares, and this is not psychosis however here is a link that may be helpful.
Anxiety disorders - My Webspace Files - Shippensgurg University (USA)
webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/ptspocdis.html-unitedstates.
Often when we have enough trauma and are looking at a topic that has previously affected us we can go there thinking: "I'm simply protecting myself from further trauma".
This creates states of staring into space, sometimes for days, becoming numb to our emotions or detached in ways which some may find painful to watch in a friend or colleague.
It's all a degree of dissociation and generally passes.
I'm glad your friend has professional guidance as well as your own comfort, concern and other professional support.

I suspect this could be happening to quite a few who have experienced and also re-experienced coerced adoptions of their own babies.
It's a traegdy that has not until now been stated as a tragedy.

I've seen these responses in several after severe or profound traumas and also when they have been reminded of these traumatic experienced.
We can no longer minimalise the effects of coerced adoptions and I trust the Report has some insights into this further than what I have written here.
I will read the Report at my first opportunity.

Psych. graduate

There is no doubt in many people's minds the Northern Territory Intervention was and is wrong.
Larissa Berendt has said a lot about this to her credit.
It's not related to Forced Adoptions except the demeaning, unconscionable tactics used in both.
However, there is a correction needed I think.
It wasn't Hon. Nicola Roxon MP, was it? rather Jenny Macklin MP and her advisors under the the Rudd Government who instigated this Intervention in the Northern Territory.

Best to get facts correct and apologies owed Nicola Roxon MP if she had nothing to do with the Northern Territory Intervention. It was fact Jenny Macklin MP.

Hon. Nicola Roxon MP and her advisors do as Attorney General et al have sway with the Report into Forced Adoptons and we trust she and her advisors have the ethical know how to do this social injustice right.

Thanks
Ricky

The commenter who said it wasn't Nicola Roxon MP rather Jenny Macklin MP and her advisors who instigated the 2009 and thereafter Northern Territory Intervention was and is correct.
The Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoptions also bears little resemblance to that unjust Intervention except as the commenter said there was and now still is (in Northern Territory) unconscionable actions imposed on vulnerable peoples, as there was time ago on forced adoption targets.
It's not hard however to see how these politicians may have been muddled up, yet both are different people and no Nicola Roxon was not the instigater of the Northern Territory Intervention it was Jenny Macklin and her advisors.

"It started with the Intervention" an article in New Matilda or Crikey.com is a good read about some of the politics of injustly placing shame, blame and demoralising actions on people's in less fortunate positions than ourselves and distorting truths to the advantage of the uncoscionable in the case of NT Intervention, for the Miners and the minerals they wanted plus land. Shameful always.
The problems of inequity have to be addressed, just as the problems of the forced adoptions are being addressed today.
there were and are inequities in both, yet one is yet to have a Senate Inquiry.
The forced adoptions Senate Inquiry staff are yet to follow through with apologies and reparations.
As larissa Berendt said 'In 10 years time there will probably be a Senate Inquiry into the NT Intervention'. True.
In the menatime to do with the Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoptions, it's Report just out, and this news media regarding topic herewith, the issue of forced adoptions is the priority.
Indigenous people's scapegoating and the other wrong doing toward them is similar in some ways to forced adoptions, however, very different in other ways.
Forced adoptions happened to people's unmarried of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds and none are known to be of Aboriginal or Torres Island decent, unless this hasn't been raised.
This doesn't disount the Stolen Generation, another, though "racial" rather than "marital status" discriminatpry practice and unconscionable goings on.
Best wishes to the targets of forced adoptions, and separately naturally I have concern for the peoples of the NT Intervention.
Thanks
James

I know lots about the horrific causes and effects of coerced adoptions. I am right behind all the victimised and support this social cause.

I didn't know who was the Federal Minister in NT Intervention, so there you go, just knew of facts from people who'd been up north there, one a lawyer, another a cinematographer.
I am so sorry Hon. Nicola Roxon for my ill-advised comment about you and your work.
I hope your work with the Forced Adoptions Inquiry Report is excellent and support this and your role in it also.
It's sad one John also had the wrong knowledge, but that's possibly because there have been so many reshuffles of politicians in past and recent times.
Thankyou
V.V.

It's the Commonwealth State and Territory governments who owe apologies to forced adoptions persons.
Slights such as getting an MP's name wrong are just that.
We all want an National apology and same from all the States and Territories, as this is at least a beginning to acknowledgement of these grave and for far too many absolutely irrepairable human injustices.
Having said that a beginning has already been made. The wide public are now aware of truth rather than the past disgraceful shaming, blaming and exiling the targets.
Making out they were disowning their own flesh and blood for so many years, disgraveful again especially as the targets were "disowned' by all, how callous and inhuman was that.
This cannot happen again.
Thanks
Ricky

Due to the damage they did and for which they have offered up words only of an apology to targets of forced adoptions the Benevolent Society through their P.A.R.C.'s should no longer collect any funds from people seeking information or reunions, and have nothing to do with forced adoptions targets.
Likewise the NSW government who in 1994 dismissed the Senate Committee Inquiry into Forced Adoptions.
They haven't apologised yet even as they have been asked to, and they are now in the spotlight for numerous unethical and probably illegal practices not least their huge involvement in forced adoptions.
The organisations who should be available to people who want reunions and information as well as not having to pay for same (haven't the targets paid enough already) should be ones able to be accountable and highly ethical today.
Thanks
Marty and Carmel

Totally with the comment about NSW Semate Committee Inquiry whereby Dr. G. Rickarby was astounding.
There were other voices too before this inquiry totally ignored and dismissed by the NSW Government, only to now be looked at in depth.
The good news is the Report is out and we can all read and noq quaestion whether it has done the Inquiry justice, and will do the targets just this.
I notice no ones laughing at forced adoptions, it's a tragic part of Australian culture.

Through this senate inquiry into forced adoptions I have learnt a great deal.
My journey in life has taken me to people of all walks of life with very different views, exepreinces as well as similar ones.
One thing I know through my life I have changed my mind as I have become more self aware and thereby other aware and allowed it to be open about a lot of things.
Regarding forced adoptions it is open and knows this was tragically unjust.
From knowing people who have conecived infants via IVF or egg donor or even surrogacy I have learnt that even as it may not be a right, it is reason-able and vital we all open our minds and see today there are families who are entitled to be socially included in that name, including gay families with child/ren and all others.
I draw the line with pedaphiles as they sexualise the mother child relationship, or father child relationship.
I also draw the line with sexualising everything, this is absurd.
I've learnt a lot with love as my compass and in that learning now know there would be today just a few who cannot but adopt out their born babies.
I understand the Report and Inquiry is not about today, but this is still relevant.

I've learnt it is better any baby or child be in a wholesome/loving family than in an instituion such as an orphanage or other, that is if that orphamage or other is legal and hasn't take babies off poor mothers who loved and wanted to raise them and needed support, not abductions.

With forced adoptions I would hope no one thinks this tragic past is meant to impart any guilt on those peoples who choose, today, and lawfully to adopt from oversees say from a country where the alone babies parents and whole family have been wiped out by unjust wars.

I've learnt via mingling and actively listening to many there is room for adoptions in Australia also, when the mother (and father if admitting paternity) so wish and have choices in that decision.

I've learnt too well coerced/forced adoptions gave no choices to the mothers to love and raise their babies.

I've learnt from social interactions and life gay couples can and do raise and care for lovingly their babies or children.

I've learnt there were and still are social workers and staff at hospitals including doctors, as well as government reps. who are unable to work with love and emptahy or compassion, far better they stack shelves so only objects get broken.

I've learnt adoptive parents should never feel guilty, unless of course they have done something unlawful or terrible to their adopted babies or children.

I've learnt there is no such person as a perfect parent, mother or father.

From forced adoptions people's I've met in all their diversity, and know, the many people I've encountered who have been affected by these I say there is a need for a national apology and also reparations to the targets.
If we disregard this yet again there will be consequences and none to do with any of the diversity of families I've mentioned herewith.

I keep learning and hope this learning is always coming from love.
Many thanks Indy.

There is so much divdision about whether abortions are right or wrong, human or inhuman.

I've learnt with love there is room for legal abortions.
The people who speak against these are rigid, hateful toward their fellow man who have very valid reasons for having these. And also, do they want a return to backyard abortions? What a travesty of justice and humanity that would be, how can they sprout hate speech to people who have abortions.

On Topic: Forced Adoptions
May the targets receive justice, and a beginning to acknowledgement of their tragedies has already happened.

Gratitude goes to all who have had and continue to have creative input into these and the Report's findings.
There have been many people for many years not only those in the 2011 2012 Senate Inquiry.
They are admirable.

I have a pile of things written by targets of adoption, adoptees and adoptive parents.
The one thing standing out in all of them is one of these persons had absolutely no supports or voices whatsoever.
These be the mothers who lost their infants to forced adoptions.
To have put them in a kind of gaol as if they were morally bad when they were anything but; guileless, possibly too good.
It's been more disturbing than anything I've read about of late and there's been lots going on in my career and world.
Who could have done this and when do they stand up and be counted for the cowards and emotionbal criplles they are.
I'm backing the real winners who are inevitably the natural mothers.
You can;t go through that much torture and survive and not come out with more insights and savvy than almost anyone.
Gain your compensations and gain your national apology and while the Feds. are giving this one's from all states also.
Western Australia are not commendable to have done this, they are leaders, that's all.
My heart goes out to the natural mothers and the babies probably now grown into their teens or even older by now.
You all deserve the very best.

Akira

I watched 4 Corners on ABC and kept thinking Where did you go to after you came out of the hospital empty handed, without your babies?
No one has mentioned this or not that I've heard and I'm wondering if they didn't, a lot of them commit suicide or find it extremely difficult to face the families who followed the government's policies to the word.
I know truth is many did try to commit suicide, and many did succeed, but what of all the others they didn;t all knit jumpers all through the years, that was very sad to hear watch.

Here you have a family with an adolescent pregnant girl and family and then you have an adolescent girl standing alone. Unless of course she turned back yet again complied without consent to her parent/s and with the powers that be whatever they would have in stall for her.
That's traumatic and must surely be the equivalent of deliberate alienation and isolation as worst kind of bully's do to their targets in all situations, including rape and I wont go further. They were exiled many were as I've discovered.
Forced adoptions need a national and all states apologies.
The negligence of so many, how is that so?

What do the groups and individuals think about a national assembly or rally in each state and territory for forced adoptions persons if the Report stagnates or acts out inadequately or further unjustly.
The groups are in the bset positions to state dates and times in each state of Australia.
This is voicing the Report has to be more than compilations of recommendations and if some are unjust or inadequate as they proceed to be acted upon.
Let Indy know, let us all know.
Thanks
Carmel

What and excellent idea if each held at every state office of human services as except for WA none of the others have this far apologised.
The Parliament in Canberra for the Commonwealth also a possibility.
This needs consideration and a lot of time to organise so all and any know about it.

This is being proactive and in every state a good idea,
For all who don't agree with apology's they could come along with their own words placards or banners or just themselves.
Thought about this once and didn't think again until I read this media.
I think one of the support adoption people seperated groups would be in best position to be the email tree so to speak, as to when, what time.
The time it took to organise would equal what amounts to fair enough time for the Report recommendations and just ones as you say to be implemented or least of all to be in the media as being so.
Good thinking Carmel.

All over the world and including Australia the Governments made birth mums and their babies powerless.
That's a crime against humanity in many people's conscionable minds.
We're not part of chaos, corruption and abuse.
All governments today are doing the same thing and that is make people feel powerless.
Examples are plentiful.
David Hicks is one, and we could name many more.
Important yo all who had to go through the torture of forced adoptions you do not let yourselves feel yet again powerless as this is what the neocons are bent on destoying human lives governments want, along with their crude form of power and influence.
Know you are with personal power something they can never achieve.
I'm saddened to the bone by forced adoptions and am behind law, justice and healing for all the targets of this horror.
Seek out every avenue,don;t stop where this has come too.
With my respect to the targets and their wider families.
Mick

Thank you Mick and we are aware who you are working with and we're all doing a great deal of hard yards here with this work.
Yes, targets of forced adoptions you were never and are not part of chaos, corruption or abuse however your lives were damaged because of others abusing their positions of power, that is by making you "helpless" as is happening to the whole world by all that Mick has written in an earlier post.
Governemtnts all over the world and their bedfellows the Fox Media (Murdoch)
See: movie "Outfoxed" are trying to make everyone feel fear and helpless, yet that can;t ultimately.
We're with you
Lawyers wiih and for Conscience )Proactive for this cause)

I'm wondering why Indymedia has to have a 'competition' as to how much 'value' people might make on each comment, what they're worth is, and also a Widget?
You already have the names and nos.
This forced adoptions social injustice is not a game.
We read your post and admire a lot of the things you write about, put out there, is there a need for the kind of censoring that 'values' comments on a credible website?
We send you all our best and thanks for the social issues you raise, they are all usually valuable, but the 'worth of the comments' can't be counted like a competition of whose better than who at making comments, expressing themselves.

The helpless situations of the targets of forced adoptions were brought on by many factors not least policies and practices.
That helplessness rendered people mute and unable to have any suppports.
Today the governments on many levels may be trying that "helpless making Tactic" on many however that comment doesn;t belong to the Forced adoptions Inquiry nor to the Report.
It would serve no one any purpose to once again create helplessness in this social injustice.
Interestingly though, it is a factor we should all be aware of today especially.
Fear and helplessness, two enemies made for us by fearmongers and scapegoaters who wont and can't look in the mirror.
For the targets I am right beside you all.
For the Salvation Army I am appalled at your lack of remorse.
Foe the other churchs who have not apologised likewise.
You can;t escape consequences of abusive actions on unmarried women or anyone.
Harm is not a necessary ever in healing.
You can re-claim your own credibility and ethical stance by apoligising, and also heal your own corporations and churchs as well as governments by apologising and making amends.
Isn't there enough for us all to sustain without hurting or neglecting the perpetrators consciences any further?
Marty

The comments about the people who did the tragic harms on natural mothers and their babies, which doesn't seem to have hardened these people who survived is
relevant. Their stories are now international news going way back to when the first person raised all this publicly in Australia.
Perpetrators either find their consciences and make amends with sincere apologies and recompense or they face consequences.
I've seen these consequences in action time after time, yet some people don't seem to understand.
Carmel

I too have seen consequences when the perpetrators have not.
They do happen, I know this from a lot of expsosure to abusive people in my work they are patrons not colleagues.
Good luck to the targets.
Bradley O'Brien

Forced adoptions reminds me of how easy it is, yet harder in the long run, to go along with common notions and assumptions in our culture in Australia.
Too many people did this.
Far too many weren't healthily sceptical and questioning about these.
Forced Adoptions also reminds us all how mothers and babies have often been placed in precarious circumstances when not fitting into certain norms created by churchs, media and governments.
At this time I think forced adoptions also raises the question of the value of motherhood, and fatherhood also.
My daughter said to me recently Why don't they celebrate you mum when it's my birth day as you're the one who gave birth to me. I can't accept what she says, but was touched.
Admittedly that's from a young and very loving daughter.
We celebrate mothers day, and fathers day.
I say we should also celebrate our interdependance, our mutual humanity, and if that happened time of forced adoptions the tragedies would not have been.
I understand it's not well thought of to write 'if it were this or that way', yet I do/
We can't look there as that didn't happen, but we can be sceptical and question the authorities today if and when they deny anyone their human rights.
Understanding there are responsibilities, however, without rights, there can be nothing in the meaning of responsibilities or humanity.
I'm wondering why the Human Rights Commission has been quiet on Forced Adotpions as it was also all about degrading, humiliating and alienating discrimination forced on birth mums on the basis of marital status.

Re. helplessness. We all need to be helped, and we all need to feel helpful usually. Human interdependance again.
Why was it so that authorities wanted to make mothers so help less when they most needed help/care so they could give this?
We know the answers now, yet need further answers from authorities.
Unless and until the national apology happens this will not lay dorment as there are voices raising in all quarters from all socioeconmic, professional and political positions.
I'm grateful the national Inquiry into Forced Adoptions proceeded with so much publicity to enhance many people's humanity. In hope the Report be carried through justly and with every help and care where needed.
Holding people back with stigma is not worth it socially, economically or any other way.
Accepted, a lot has surfaced that removes (in part) the stigma, not as yet enough.
Logic is not all there is when anyone has experienced such very profound trauma as loss of their baby or loss of their parents, there needs to be a build up of trust in authorities. First thing that comes to mind is that they be trustworthy, able to be trusted.
What would be a further beginning for this, I have some answers and they are in some of the comments others have raised.
Sincerely and with all respect to the people who were targeted yet are having their say and I hope on the way to healing and more than basic survival.
Cheers
Carl

Mothers who lost their babies to coerced adoptions don't celebrate mothers day like other mothers.
That's speaking from three people I know's experience.
They also go under whenever the birth day of their baby lost happens along.
They need reparations.
Lis

Apologise like you eman it PM and
all the rest
of you who did this to my fellow man.
Been shown a lot of things but this takes the cake.
Mums are entitled to raise their babies with society's supports.
This is outrageous.
Des
Social Worker

Do the Senators and anyone who is focusing on the Report and implementing it have the courage of their convictions?
This includes the Greens who instigated this Senate Inquiry.
Hundreds of people gave evidence not wanting pity seeking justice, and purt their lives out there publicly for all to hear and know of that's showing the courage of their convictions.
At least one other has done this in autonomous way prior to any Inquiries in Australia, and with the courage of their convictions.
Is it all about putting the truths out there and then sitting back thinking that's all done now, move on to the next hat to draw an inquiry out of?
Senators and anyone who look at forced adoptions do you have the courage of your convictions?
Ricky

It's a matter of bullying to the extreme, as one social worker has told AM radio "It was aweful, it was aweful [how the girls women were treated].
Peter Garrett MP has just spoken on air about a person who comitted suicide after severe bullying in youth on this occasion.
I'd like to draw the readers attention to facts.
In the Supreme Court there is a judge who has openly admitted to me she is working on anti-bullying in her workplace, she told me it was writhe amongst the women.
In corporations all over the country and world there are others speaking up and out about adult bullying and the causes (bullying) and effects of these are costly and horrific. Salvation Army is an example of one corporation where there is a culture of military hierarchy as well as bullying it seems from what I;ve now learnt.
Who wants destructive bully's in their lives.
The targets of forced adoptions have no need for these persons again.
Here with forced adoptions we have circumstances where the targets of bullying were not with any supports or choices yet they were bullied by people with ethical codes to be caring for them.
I'm prepared to see an anti-bully program intoduced into Australia that looks directly at all bullying, and not limited to yet inclusive of child bullying.
This just isn't happening yet in sustainable ways.

The adolescents who were bullied into submission to surrender their babies were bullied to a tragic extreme, and many did commit suicide.
I know one who almost died trying to commit suicide.
She worked after the birth and drove a car given her by her boss. She was unconscious of what she was doing and without any doubt in utter torture and torment frame of mind. The loss to her too great to bare.
Determied to beat the odds and knowing the give way to the right, she proceeded to have herself and the car she drove ramrodded and crumpled into a small heap on the ground by a heavy duty truck.
She the post pregnant adolescent was thown from the wreckage into a rose bush, hows that for a miracle of sorts.
She didn't want pity, she didn't want life as hers had been denied her in every possible way and she had suffered severest bullying.
The trusk driver was more than upset, and when the woman grew she realised how sad that was for him, but couldnlt when she didn;t want to face life as it was, merciless, totally unconscionable toward her and her situation.
The trouble with all this is bullying is not on anwhere, yet news media, governments and corporations almost make it their waving flag for Australia.
We hear the politicians bully each other when they are meant to be role models for many and cooperative without that nensensical ego competition.
Not all politicians fit into this category, fat too many do; our programs on television show the debates which are like tiger pits.
Bullying has to stop, and bully's have to back off and in reference to forced adoptions the bullies who tortured young girls women and their babies need therapy, that's if therapists even consider treating that kind of arrogant, selfush soulless kind of ethical and sometimes physical thugs.
Forced adoptions has a lot in it about this abuse of power.
The woman I know who nearly lost her life about a month after she came home from losing her baby to coerecd adoption [forced] has given a lot to society and grown up and away from self harm yet still to this day has anguish and pain that she deals with professionally and in healthy ways now.
What about all the others who couldn't do this.
I think we should all have a silent service for those persons who paid the rpice of their lives because of other persons abhorrent bullying and power abuse.
It's not on.
For the vicious who get off on others suffering it's just their food, and they are ugly, evil and their charactersitics are too prominent to go unnoticed.
Good on Peter Garrett MP for speaking out about the child bullied to death yet there are also adultts who are being bullied and these also have rights to be aired and the bullies to pay their price, which is as others have said well, consequnces happane eventually.
Doesnt mean we all become complacent with bullies.
I've more to say on this subject however it's going into my assignment. Found this from AM ABC show and saw the correlations and remember my freind who went through a living hell after her loss.
[Someone asked what happens after they lose their babies, the experience never leaves them].
To all who would judge suicide I ask you to think below the surface with this one and don't go far right into judging at all, could be a normal response to very profound traumatic experience, and is known to be especially when the targets have no supports at all.
Sory about the length of this comment I have a lot of writings on this as my assignment is soon due and want to speak my mind on this space in forced adoptions citing other examples also hoping they help others see the purposelessness of bully actions and conduct.
Craig Burton [aka ....]

Indymedia have opened my eyes and I've found other news media who are writing about forced adoptions,
See: Crikey.com and Amber Jamieson's journalism entitled
"Stories from the mothers who had their babies taken away".
The figures aren't accurate there were more Australia wide, however it's worth a read.

ABC Radio Australia has piece about forced adoptions.
1/3/2012 by Giselle Wakatama
It's called "Senate urges Australia to apologise for forced adoptions".

Who wrote the Senators need to have the courage of their convictions I agree, yet they have shown this, and now it'r the poltoicians looking at the Report who have to have the courage of their convictions.

I did read the Crikey.com website and that one submission about the woman from Salvation Army hospital where she was told by matron 'I want to see her on her hands and knees before the Lord".
Don't they dare. How dare they have done this it's insane.
Some church's are doing wonderful things today, others have a lot of blood on their hands and the only way forwarf for them is to publicly apologise and give compensations.
Totally disgusting - humilate and shame an unmarried adooesecent girl by making her bow to that kind of distorted "lord" to make her bend and kneel and scrub floors at all.
Did she get paid for that labour.
They used abused and grossly humiliated without shame the utterly vulnerable who were in need of health care pateients - more than outrageous. Find that matron and she and her employers should be put on trial, like all the rest who did these vile acts unless they pay the patients for all the harm they did.
They could of course get on their hands and knees & scrub the floors of the forced adoptions targets of abuse.
C.

The comment about cruelty from that corporation, shame. shame C.
As if any loving Lord commands one of their flock of matrons or anybody to demand that of poor ones in such positions.
One woman was private patient of theres & was forced to do what no one should have to do also. I can't write the details here, it's presently confidential.
I can raise she was not only deprived of foods for her self and her inutero baby for fourteen days, also deprived of visitors except on two or three occasions whilst in what everyone now admits was a too long stay at Bethesda.
This birth mother plead and begged (how humiliating) to see her baby and every time denied that right. The nursery was close by and she told me she swore she could hear her own born even whilst delirious with shock and torment.
She plead and begged (humiliation) to hold and feed her baby when she was conscious as they drugged her up big time despite her private doctor "Peter Elliott" not asking them to do this. The only time she saw her son was when the matron said "The parents are coming to take him home". Who were the real parents, that's so cruel.
Here was an asolescent who had a lot of awareness prior to this shocking experience, and today as we know of it a lot of dignity and humanity and hard work unravelling just what was imposed on her. She's no victim and not to be pitied. She was treated unconscionably however.
She was drenched in tears dressing her drenched in tears baby. There's more yet she's told most of her story publicly to her credit long time ago before anybody seemed interested in raising this abominable social injustice. She went to lots of media herself and they raised it publicly on television, radio and at her own public expose. That cost her years of time, emotional enery as well as material costs and she said it was meant to be for her son to know he was loved and wanted and how that was not how the public perceptions saw forced adoptions.
You got it Salvation Army hospital in Sydney this time in a suburb called Marrickville.
I think they all should look at how they tragically affected too many at too many hospitals all over Australia, run under their form of christianity.
The Governments allowed this all to happen, whether the patients were private or public, shame again.
At the very least the Salvos can pay the parents who paid them for private "maternity Care" for their pregnant daughter, that didn't happen, the oppsoite did "uncaring cruelty' and start opening up to the media about how they are going to compensate as well as apologise and mean it.
I'm getting the creeps thinking about the numbers and how widespread this all was, in the name of our "lord" I don't think so.
Ricky

I want to know if they have consciences and why it doesn't bother them as they the salvos and governments are now being scrutinised and judged as they did their "in care (what a joke) patients and fellow citizens" at time of Australian Baby Scoop Era. The mothers were judged with toxic poisonous venom, malice.
I know something Ricky missed out on too.
My partner and I attended the public expose directed by the birth mum 'Natural Parent' and the one person who was invited, would have been at least 18years old by 1992, didn't watch the television airing on SBS Vox Populi, didn't listen to any of the radio air plays from his birth mum Pamela Bridgefoot as interviewee with her songs, and importantly didn't attend the expose even as she had given her birth son ample time to attend, along with whoever he wanted to.
This is not to rumourise this woman's plight.
The expose showed she can speak for herself and has willpower.
It's also not to make the adoptee feel guilt, he must have had a lot of pressure from either his adoptive parents or his own issues not addressed. It's an emotional whirlwind for both perople we're told.
I think the whole story was then as is now one of the most abusive and vicious assaults on an adolescent girl I can imagine.
Yet Pamela admirably came out and exposed the cover ups and lies. We're told she was in the middle of sickness at the time and as the saying goes, the show still went on with her there, however, not the birth son who wasn't we're also advised too ill to attend. I feel for him a lot. What must have been going down for him then too.
Do the perpetratots of forced adoptions, this kind of vicious, malicious wrong doing have consciences?
I trust this doesn't breach confidentiality as that's not what's intended. I write this wihout wanting to hurt anybody.
M and family

Thank you to my friends and associates for surrounding me and my story with your kind words, whilst I was out and about having cafe and then walking with my closest.

From here on in I can speak for myself though and would appreciate if this were left up to me, and where necessary my professional representatives.

I value deeply your support and being here for me though.
It's about many many people and I may have broken through the 'silence barrier' time ago, yet I was not the only one openly conveying to the world the wounds of anguish a natural mother feels and thinks about.
I don't stand alone today I now know too well.

Someone asked on one comment I was shown what I do today.
I've done a lot of research on forced adoptions and associated topics concerning human rights and responsibilities yet not put it out there.
I've collaborated with famous musician, the fruits innovative, original, sensual and credited, if not remunerative except for humble appreciated royalty.
I'm socially active in diverse circles, with fine friends who are discerning as I am, a very proud mother of a beautiful young woman, still continue to create artworks, mainly visuals, and am working with a professional as to why I cannot as yet value my artistic works as in sell them as well as other trauma issues. Instead I give my art works to charities, or have them in what some have called highbrow boutique or book stores as window dislays, or creatively to enhance beauty of environments, no income yet out there in the public domain.

There's something about sales of creative babies I can't come to terms with yet. I understand where this stems from that's a beginning.
I've day jobbed in health Retail/Pharmacy and Child Care, and far too much volunteering last time for the homeless.
Again looking at why I canlt value my own creative time and hard yards, I've a great man who helps me through this.
I'm not a book to be opened at any page, as I know too well I was once made an object rather than a person.
Not anymore.

I have on occasions contributed for love by editing some human rights material, a lot of learning as this is a particular interest.
Ecological concerns and human rights concerns play on my mind naturally and I try to contribute whatever I can, when I'm able too.

Thanks Robyn Baker for your kind words on Peter's website, how generous of you, hope you're well and thriving.

Sincerely grateful to people who care, have empathy and compassion, extending these out in constructive, creative ways. That's what was missing when forced adoptions happened; human care, compassion and empathy.
I add interdependence. We all need supports, no less the single mother.
I value Eva Cox for teaching me more about this from her Boyer Lectures 'A Trully Civil Society'. What a revered jewel of a person she is, as shines through in her writings, never agreeing to everything anyone writes, but this book is potent today as when it was written, maybe more so today.

In the name of humanity we've all got a lot more work to do now.
Pamela Bridgefoot
Pan Melos Galerie

Whilst I wrote about doing a lot of volunterring, and on the topic Forced Adoptions, I spent over three years as a performance artist at a contemporary venue performing songs from my Natural Parent Expose, as well as other more sensual themes and songs from the collaborative C.D. This again was vulntary yet helped others who were encouraging me and I see what worked and what didn't with my writings.
I also created short plays and perfomed them there.
The writings I performed also at many writers venues, and they drew a lot of attention though eventually the time factor came into play; responsibilities to attend to family came into play.

I believe targets of forced adoptions can express themselves in diverse ways whether they have gifts with pen and brush or not, and not only by submissions.

When you put your artworks or ideas out there, no matter what forms they take, what genre, if they are about forced adoptions and your experiences of same they help others see from a creative vantage point what it's like in your shoes and others also, as well as help you reclaim your identity.
It's healing to be able to express oneself in whatever way one can as this was denied you for so long, you had no voices, choices or supports and neither did I.

I also go along with the concept of counselling as a great idea as everyone needs professional listening ears who can be objective, and not objectify you as individuals.
It's not all about listening as you also have to actively listen as well, yet it's therapeutic I understand.

Separate from all that:
I was immensely moved by the visual artist, target of forced adoptions with her paintings especially the one with those torrid of tears shown on ABC 4 Corners 'Given or Taken?' Ut hurt to watch yet was also healing hurt.
(even as I told ABC the title was somewhat dubious with it's question mark. plus some more, the program was good).
The painting drew tears from me as did two others.
I commend her artistry, and hope she shares her creative babies with many more exhibits. I would write her name out of respect but couldn't find it again after we first watched it on Iview and there was too much to take in all the names and images as well as what I found disturbing and traumatic truths yet again, very.
(possibly the program doesn't stay on Iview for long?)

All the best to all who are concerned about forced Adoptions and the outcomes of all the work done by the Senators and Submitters.
I was not one of the latter for reasons I don't need to explaun I'm advised. I'm no different in basic ways, just couldn't do that.

Many thanks
Pamela Bridgefoot
Pan Melos Galerie

I've just checked out the website Pan Melos Galerie and I commend the artist Pamela Bridgefoot for her beautiful works and being the first to take a public active stand against this social injustice in 1992. It's well known what she did, far too much in one show, yet the exhibit lasted a few weeks I think.
She's in the Artist's Who's Who, is a writer full member of APRA and has a lot of credibility in multi media arts. I admire her social activism, it's quiet, it's subtle and it's very genuine. The latter is needed in inquiries such as this one Forced Adoptions.
Having met Pamela at various book launches exhibitions and dinners I've found this woman now with that gracious personae of a dancer and the mind of a humanitarian.
Her wisdom regarding Forced Adoptions is excellent yet she's not inclined to talk about it socially except when asked directly about the forced adoptions inquiry and report. A friend of mine who suffered a difficult adoption as an adoptee wanted her wisdom and received it graciously, not easily at first, then very graciously and they've kept in contact , it's helped my friend.
I'm with all my support for all who have gone through similar circumstances to Pamela and advise I would sign any petition or attend any rally or other event in support of forced adoptions. If the organiser could put this on this website we'd all know when, where and what time etc.
All the best to you all.
J. Walker

Fr J.Walker whom I think writes well of this woman, she's a lot of credability in creative circles after doing a great deal to inform.
Ray Martin and others alike wrote to commend her and there was talk of another expose.
For one woman to spend that many years passionately on this project admittedly with artistic supports she did open doors for coerced adoptions to be looked at in depth.
Re. your final remarks
There was talk of a Rally after the report however none of the adoption support groups have responded to date about this.
Collectively with resouurces one or more of these advertised groups are best positioned to start the embers there.
There's already a lengthy Petition on either Arms or Origins websites. Pamelas friends and herself have signed this to my knowledge.
Other than that you can write your own news media and have that published with one of the reputable rags.
Everyone's truths are important.
Cheers
Marty

It's worth noting the times of so many forced adoptions happening during the conservative Australian Liberal government who were in power at this time.
The longest serving Liberal party in fact.
Not saying there is to day much divide between Labor and Liberals, yet knowledge worth considering.
This doesn't disregard todays Labor Commonwealth government giving an owed National apology to all those who were targeted in Forced Adoptions.
The conservative Liberals from 1949 to 1966 and all that happened in this time. What a messy time with Vietnam War and forced adoptions etc. etc.
Neocons are extreme today,
M43

Genders aside there are similarities between the Vietnam war and Forced Adoptions.
They were both unjust.
No matter what size anyone's buttocks there's a report in a drawer waiting to be authentically apolosiging and all the ret.
Charles

The Salvation Army now want to do, and are doing, their own version of the Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoptions, by Internal Investigations and self reporting.
After the anguish all who have been impacted by Coerced Adoptions whether they be private or public patients or in home persons via the Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoptions 2011 to 2012, the Salvation Army, as one woman and her advisors have now told me want to .
See The Post, latest news from Canada.
Apalling.
Would they drag the coerced adoption mothers, fathers and adoptees through more anguish than they have already endured for their own yet again what appears self interest.
They gained so much from these past parctices, not only from poor mothers but from privileged.
Appalling and by many people's standards.
They have claimed "Homes' will be investgated when the "Home's and Hospitals" were usually all one and the same.
However, this slight allows them to negate "Health Care Obligations and Codes of Ethics". It;s not gone unnoticed by many professionals.
"Internal Investigations" of course the Government are so seperate from The Salvation Army after all they the Salvos are "Corporate" even as one has subsidised the other (The Gov.) on too many occasions, despite the huge influx of funds they gain from financially charitable persons and companies.
Appalling
Marty

I'm unsure how the Salvation Army can legally be self reporting as they have been named as one of the corporations who were "untouchable" alongside the Catholic Church, that is as not accountable as perpetrators by Dr. Geoffrey Rickarby in his Senate Inquiry Report [NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Adoption Practices Excerpts From Dr. Geoff Rickarby's Submission]
They appear to be a law unto themselves.
It's important this Senate Inquiry and the one they may have in Canada are not with wires crossed.
They may be looking at Forced Adoptions in other countries however this Report just out is about in Australia.
Thanks
Carmel