Senate inquiry into forced adoptions found barbaric, horrific abuses

This may not be formal as yet though we think the Catholic Church have already apologised (Laverty).

It's obvious now the Salvation Army were a very major player is this absolutely despicable abuse.
They need to publicly apologise
Al Carmichael

Eureka Street have an article by the psychologist and writer Lyn Bender titled "Sex, Lies and Adoption"
It's a good informative read and from a woman who knows her subject matter personally and professionally.
Cheers
C (Psychologist)

There is a woman who went to a person seeking to re-solve an inhouse societal issue.
The person was in a position of authority and the woman was in a position of potent self awareness and personal power.
The person of authority asked her "What's your story?"
She responded with "That's not what I'm here for".
"What's yours?"
That was the end of a non-communication that lead no where.

This is to example that the so called experts have to own their own arrogance and admit when they have not gone to therapy and done those lengthy works to enable them to be in any position to ask anyone "What's your story".

Do we go to those persons who have survived Auchswitz and ask them would they like to "volunteer their story"?
I don't think many in the Jewish community would allow this unless it was the once targeted desire to speak up and out about her or his very sensitive, personal and anguished experience there.

Tha Australia Institute have to open up and convey who they are and if they are assuming it's an easy ask to implode and etc. they have something to look at.
They also need to have staff who have gone through in depth therapy themselves, otherwise the whole exercise is useless.
Without insights into forced adoptions and one's own self there can be no purpose to someone trusting these so called "authorities" to direct, advise or even actively listen with humanity, empathy and awareness.

I'm finding the arrogant assumption that "We are inviting you to come to us for our research" a repeat of what the women went through. They are being asked to "Give what is very very personal and about a tragedy, not a normal experience".
We will use your intellectual and emotional energies for our "Reseaerch". There's something rather crass about the way this is being handled and to boot insensitive.
Not on your life does anyone have to open up to perfect strangers, unless and until these intsitutes and others show what they have done to earn such a grace as receiving such very profoundly tragic and traumatic loss stories as forced adoptions.
Those who find this the flip side of flippant are correct, it is.
This is not a social injustice wereby "probing" the nasty persons anctics is appropriate.
Possibly the news media have used the word "Probe" flippantly without thinking.
It's time to think.
It's time to start realising the inevitable; it's a hard ask except for the insensitive and cut off from their emotions to gain stories of anyone's tragic trauma without the knowing trust the receiver is authentic and with what psychiatrists have to do: in depth analysis.
Asking people to freely volunteer as if this is a "clinical" research when it's beyond that; equivalent to the woman who went to the authority to seek justice and re-solve in house and received arrogance.

I end with the arrogant of course never go to therapy, as they can't admit there is anything that needs introspection, reflection and re-solve, their somehow above all that, not so in reality.

Yours truly
Benjamin

I too have found the way these societies and institutes are asking for people to "come to them" so arrgant as Benjamin says.
Who do they think they are.
Anyone does this of their own volition and knowing who is what and where.
The Australia Institute is government funded and we're looking at whether the government were involved in forced adoptions as well as apologies for what now is evident. There's conflicts of interest with them and others also.

Repressive climates breed coercions and Forced Adoptions was just such a coercion as was the call-up and Vietnam War. I see what the connection is.
Are we again living in a repressive climate in Australia, that's the question.
The research it's vast on the ineffectiveness of coercion is very plentiful. Punitive and coercive doesn't work and look what tragedies it's shown with forced adoptions. These are tragedies by anyone's standards.

As far as the Churchs involved recovery from coercive religious practices can be really painful and needs experts with as Benjamin said who have been through in depth analysis themselves to be the "experts".
Otherwise it's very dangerous playing with people's psyche's as if they are objects yet again.
They were made objects by coercive forced adoptions and this is the crime. They were nothings the natural mothers and they were also objects.
The babies were objects, but no not nothings as they were wanted and there was often a high financial price.
The babies lost were not considered appropriately either even as it all went under "in the best interests of the child" .
The natural mothers were devastated to an extreme.

I find this news has widened my understanding of how pitiful "powerful" can be and how they all should be attentive to how they're fulfilling their "responsible" roles and in what way, knowing coercive doesn't work in any context.
Parents are not coercive on a dailly basis, good parents.
The parents of the forced adoptions weren't allowed to be good parents even as they were indeed good people.

The people who think coercion is needed to maintain order and discipline have to re-think as there is strength based methods and they work, unlike warlike and punitive coercive means of gaining babies for infertile or arrogant couples or any other purpose that suits any given "power" (and there's wide scope with this as Benjamin outlines very well).

I've heard a lot of stories about forced adoptions now and have to say what Benjamin wrote rang a bell.
Voyeurs are creepy, and as Benjamin said doing what was done to these girls and women again, and this is the researchers who "probe" people's psyches in a collective manner, that's insane.
(If people don't get this it's another "intrusion" asking for their stories as free gifts as many of these people have had ample of that and don't need the further callous cruelty.)
Yes, they the authorities need to go to therapy, not the other way around.

The persons who suffered and many still do from forced adoptions are now treated as individuals of dignity and worth, nothing less.

Artists will create about forced adoptions and have already, songwriters will produce songs and have already, film makers will produce films about this and they have already, theatre, opera and ballet will do likewise and they have already and will continue too as the Arts are a way of maintaining our humanity, not coercive practices of probing and consistently asking people who were once almost if not entirely martyed to do this again for the sake of "research".

The "research" is one coercive way of avoiding owning up to being accountable for gross negligence on the part of the "authorities" with forced adoptions in Australia.
However as the Report is now out this can't continue without further authentic apologies and recompenses.

It's time as Benjamin said.
Cheers and best of regards to the once targets of forced adoptions. You're not victims to be probed and prodded anymore.
George

I come from a country where this has happened also.
I commend the government here in Australia for having the Report now out and acting on it in due time.
I find what has been said worth reading because coercion doesn't work, no matter where it's applied.
I also think coming from a country where the arts are valued Australia might like to look at upping the anto re. Arts here rather than wholly distributing so much news media on Sports, now Australias highest gambling stokes.
Looking at all this I think Australia needs to recognise the individuals who have contributed above and beyond the call of duty to this social cause and they are not usually part of some group.
That's not to say the groups haven't done some good work.
Certain comments are talking about therapy and I say in L.A. where I come from almost every second person attends this.
They are not usually as traumatically victimised, well who knows, but it's almost a regular if you're healthy you go along to unravel the ebbs and flows of life's challenges and social injustices.
Leave the forced adoptions who were targeted to their privacy if they are private persons, and don't "expect" to have any of these persons constantly givers whilst others take from them what is not there's.
That wasn't on when forced adoptions happened and isn't on today.
Full recompense is necessary, not sidetracking to avoid accountability.
Good luck to those who have gone through this forced adoption tragedy. You are good people and deserve your justice now.
Jose

It's simply than what you write Jose I think.
Selfish people will ask those who've given too much human sacrifice and time to forced adoptions to give more.
Selfish people are always taking from the less fortunate or otherwise more anguished, they just can't help themselves.
It's all about what can we benefit from vulnerable in their eyes. They certainly benefited other people's babies in forced adoptions.
Forced adoptions is all about selfish people and these were not the victimised as you call them.
Selfish people don't really contribute, they get others to volunteer to do this. There's a selfish culture in Australia.
Selfish people always ask for volunteers for their own work when it's highly inappropriate and they can get their information in more respectable ways.
I'm with you the past victimised now need redress.
Carmel

Where's your social consciences then New Matilda.
You say you write for the people yet have left out all and anything about forced adoptions.
We haven't heard anything yet several people have contacted you regarding this topical social injustice.
You've ignored them all we're told. Any reason to be so quiet on this matter it does rate news media as has now been well established.
Marty

One article is from BBC.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17201052
BBC News - Australian Senate calls for apology on forced adoptions.

More world news coming soon.

International Social Services conributed to the Australian Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoptions however their report detailed other associated heinous causes and effects.
www.iss.org.au/publications/reports-papers-and-articles.
Under International Social Services Major Reports.
I'm astounded by what the Inquiry and Report has unearthed and continue to see there is a very major problem with the abuse of powers toward unmarried and or alienated girls and women who fall pregnant often by coercion or under circumstances oppressive and repressive, and under extreme trauma and further under extremely traumatic coercive regimes, not only in Australia, as found there at International Social Services.
We have to act to stop this kind of conduct leading to families becoming estranged all over the world.
Australia can be a leader in this.
It's all up to the 'leaders' and those who have put their stories out into the public domain in whatever manner they have to date. we need more of this.
Those who choose anonymity because of the past secrecy surrounding forced adoptions and associated practices that's a choice.
M43

If we disregard the high priority need for care for mothers with baby/child we disregard basic human rights.
If we go further and disregard self protection a liberty and human right of all mankind we see how all the birthing mothers in coerced adoptions were placed in positions where thay weren't able to even vaguely assert this basic liberty and human right to self protect.
In these [huge numbers of cases] that self protect meant protection of their infants also.

I'd like to quote an old yet relevant basics about mankind that has been handed down from 1859 for always.
* The sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of any of their members is self protection.*
by John Stuart Mill

Fundamental self protection was denied all and every girl and woman who were victimised by coerced adoptions.
This is shameful beyond human comprehension.
That the victimised were also denied duty of care and normal health care procedures is an added abominability.

Looking through most of the submissions and most of the individual contributions via found records and other individual exposes of forced adoptions we can only come to the conslusion no one who was in sight of the birth mothers when these atrocities happened gave any though whatsoever about the liberty and human rights of those who suffered as a consequence of fundamental liberties and human rights being unconscionably denied them.
This is more shameful than anything I've known about for a long time.

From a mother of two who was normally fortunate to have both self protection and normal health care during both my pregnancies and thereafter, who watched and realised just what transpired in forced adoptions on 4 Corners, it shocked and disturbed my family and I.
I send all affected by forced adoptions my condolences.

*Punitive measures are costly and don't work* by ACOSS a highly recognised and authentic authority with Australian Social Services for all Australians.
We've now seen this with forced adoptions.

I know one birth mother who suffers immensely and she was unable to make a submission because the Inquiry triggered more hurt and anguish than she could humanly consider to contribute emotionally and materially and I can well understand her reasons for keeping it within the contains of those she loves and cares about and who love and care
about her in return.

From same mother of two and wife of one their father.
Thanks

I'm friends with a woman who is at this time going through a re-live of the most horrnedous time in her life.
She was the first to go public with cerced adoptions and her expose impressed many. Her name is Pamela Bridgefoot.
This woman has now been placed in Google by The Punch Magazine and they have without thought nor sensitivity bothered to include the second half of her views re. a political airing.
I understand this is all about forced adoptions and in that context the news media should start being sensitive to all who have suffered in any which way, no matter what they have equally artistically contributed to try and heal themselves and all concerned.
Pamela is sensitive and proactive to a great deal in humane ways, it's time magazines like The Punch stopped punching people like her.
You'll note if you go to the site (if you're bothered with The Punch) Pamela is the only one with a sirname added.
They who live by contempt for people who do good deeds for betterment of society will ultimately fall on their own swords.
Leave the grieving to grieve and back off The Punch, you're way out of line here.
Also, print up the 2nd piece Pamela wrote, why did you leave that out to punch Pamela well and trully. Back off.
News Media distortions happen even when wee're dealing with deeply sensitive subjects like coerced adoptions.
Leave Pamela to her privacy and grief as she sieves through a lot on her plate and never will she again contribute anything to magazines who misrepresent her.
If you The Punch persist in your anti-social behavior we'll take this further.
Marty
Barrister

No worries Marty, your friend is well known in the Arts for what she's done and is doing.
The Punch are as their name implies, and few read that mag.
Good wishes to the uncantaminatable, or as she's known here pure spirit Pamela Bridgefoot and her family.
Her website (one of many) Pan Melos Galerie shows some beautiful images and we love it
I want the Senate Inquiry to understand the seriousness of the girf people who were at the heart of it may feel today as yesterday.
Madelaine and family
Melbourne
Australia

For all the genuine extension of self and prolific work the Senator, Rachel Siewert has done for forced adoptions she too will go down in history as being and also continuing to be a voice for these people, the chiar of the Senate Inquiry and a lot more.

The Report is thick, extensive and outlines a great deal.
There may be a concise version for people to downlad if they can't do this with the large volume Report?

Regarding some media putting out misrepresentations this will always happen the moment you put your valuable head up to make any comments they can be misconstrue to their advantage. They intrude, they invade your privacy, they can act like vultures and vampires, and they try anything on, but you're able to say Back off, cause they're usually bullys. And yes, there are legal avenues if it goes too far.
Though bully negetivity or intrusion doesn't deserve any response as it feeds these negative people.
Let all negativity go over you beyond you and out into the ether.

Keep putting the truth out there, creative minds are needed more than ever today.
Cheers
Cheryl

I've just been alerted that one the the past targets of forced adoptions has had her personal computer and privacy totally invaded and consistently by what appears to be a corporate operation.
This is a warning to all to be prepared for these corporations who were involved in unjust and unconscionable forced adoptions to be on the alert for this happening to them also.
It is also a warning this or these corporations are very low life and despicable, doing yet again what they've done before.
Privacy law are available to individuals and collectives if when this happens to you.

The Salvation Army are very threatened by forced adoptions.
No doubt whoever wrote about their privacy being invaded this is one link worth pursuing.
They have privacy lawyers and all sorts trying to cover them but there's others who are looking at just what they are doing legally and otherwise to avoid accountability.
The Salvation Army. This is a disgrace.

One past target of forced adoptions has her name with parts of her work history being monitored and displayed on the internet, she's being scutinised and judged again, this time in a different way. Shame Shame Shame!
Pity she's a good woman and the work she's done and does is mainly covered by privacy laws as in Health etc. however, this is becoming rediculous.
Forced adoptions are not about re-victimising the people who've been damaged and are now trying to heal.
However, those perpetrators who feel threatened as in the governments and corporations are yet again trying to instill fear. That's one of their major "weapons".
Get beyond the fear and go for it.
If it's litigation and compensation you seek don't let the scaremongers stop you, they always try it on.
Cheryl

www.telegraph.co.uk/family/8859845/David-Cameron
The UK Telegraph finds this news media to shock and disturb whilst Australia is looking at one of the most damaging social injustices.

Whilst Australia is looking at the tragedies of many many thousands of forced adoptions, over in the cold and depressed UK The Prime Minister David Cameron is pro-adoption to the hilt. It makes money for the few, at the cost of the many.
David Cameron states: "This country must become more pro-adoption".

My heart goes out to all who have been subjected to forced adoptions.
My mind boggles at the social order the UK Ptime Minister is trying to create and whether he has any idea of the repercussions of what he's saying and the tragedy that adoptions are for many people.

Breaking ties of heritage and natural family's are serious, not frivolous.

I've just returned from England where shops were closed, streets were dank evereywhere and where it was dismal and this country wants to re-invent an anti-natural-family regime of "Pro-adoption" not fix up the major troubles that cause people to fall into circucmstances whereby adoption has to happen.
Outrageous.

Forced Adoptions may well be a long way from choosing to adopt but pro-adoption to the extreme that Cameron talks of is outrageous.

All children deserve a family, everyone deserves a family and this includes all those many who lose because of lack of supports and alliances to raise their own children.
Enough David Cameron you've a lot to learn.

Why don't you consider what you're going to do about re-uniting families over there amidst your and all those shops closed in cold, cold England.
Carmel

I'm totally without reserve aware David Cameron appears to lack all sensitivity and is talking from a place lacking insights and foresight.
Babies as the only "resource" you can find David to lift the misery and doom and gloom in UK.
What an appalling statement to make:
"We must become more pro-adoption".
Little Britain is a send up of the poverty in parts of UK.
It's appalling poverty. Fix this up before you cradle snatch.
There is the other side whereby affluenza has taken hold in UK.
Fix up the poverty in UK, don't dislocate families from their origins, the latter has serious consequences and costs enormous health wise in the long term.
Short term thinkers or non-thimkers would hurt and damage birth mothers and allow them to lose their babies so the economy could get a lift up.
If you've got lots of orphanages over there deal with them and let adoptions happen through them ethically.
Poor show David promoting the disintegration of families of origin.
If there's no minerals, no oils, then babies can be your "commodities" and this will do, no one usually thinks like that when we're talking about human life.
Pro-adoption advocates need to look at the causes and effects, and get rid of the causes.
Babies are not for sale.
Birth mothers are not to be exploited and used as objects or nothings whilst governments in UK propogate this kind of insensitive and mindless propaganda.
If you want altruistic and or martyr women to bare children and lose them to adoption what are your thoughts about your own mother?

Cameron has been confronted by allegations of social elitism prior to and since his election as Prime Minister of UK.
What do you expect from a man who shows his true colours so flagrantly to allow these allegations to surfice so widely.
Babies are not for sale, that's the bottom line.
Pro-adoption is as misogynist and anti-family as you can get. It's extreme yet so is social elitism.

It's a bit more disturbing when you see te UK is where the International Head Office of The Salvation Army is situated.
Nice work you two.
But you're both above the law and all else aren't you, you feel.
Bring in some humanity and back off from the vulnerable mothers and their infants.

They know of the psychological costs of adoptions a tragic form of tearing original families apart and despite that all they can think of is the amount of monetray benefits they can gain by "pro-adoption" adoptions.

This is an international shame and everyone's growing tired of these "destoyers" as Beverly Engels calls them.

To the dominators short sighted business is all they look at. Imperialsim is all about social divides so large as to cause horrendous damage to all.
Noone and nothing else matters to dominators except short sighted business.
Forced Adoptions in Australia have raised question marks about adopion per se and the short sighted business men are tumbling over themselves because it shows too clearly that adoption is nothing short of tragedy for inidviduals and families. They never wanted this to be dicslosed.
USA are the leaders in imperialism and then there's the UK.
Forced Adoptions after the 2nd world war were numerous far too large to ignore as anything less than social engineering at it's most unconscionable.
Low and behold the Prime Minister of UK is the same ilk as the Minister after the 2nd world war.
Cameron, the unexamined life is not worth living.
Examined and far sighted social equity and equality is needed today.
Forced adoptions cannot happen again and if they do there will be huge costs the kind imperialists hate to brunt and bear.
Learn from the past and move forward with some penchant for humanity.
It's never too late to show you have a conscience.

"Infant Adoption is big business in America" by Darlene Gerow
CUB Communication Editor
* "Adoption and the effects on Child development" by Dana E. Johnson.

I too am disgusted by Cameron's lack of knowledge and I dare say more including foresight into the very real tragedies of adoptions, forced and all.

I can't explain how I feel about forced adoptions because it's hurtful, and I never knew these existed until there was an event years ago in Taylor Square, and then more and more stories coming from every state in Australia during this senate inquiry.
I knew America was irresponsible with flaunting adoptions as if they are something so easy and never telling you anything about the real parents. Always felt sad, a kind of pity, for those so called stars having to exploit like that then again I'm sure they have had sad lives and needed a baby. Someone else's is another story. Forced adoptions is the equivalent of murdering the mothers.
I've met adopted people and they have problems usually.
Kindness to an orphaned child that's good, but taking babies away from their mums is vile and wrong.
Nopw there's talk about England where I was born originally, and I feel sad again.
How can prime ministers promote something that causes so much suffering.
I'm going to read the Report no matter how long it takes, and just ignore if it has anything promoting adoption in there, and I'll also hope the Australian Government gives a formal public apology to all of the forced adoptions.
Therese

Suppression Oppression and Coercive practices make up Forced Infant Adoptions.
Every one has the human right to express their views, opinions and ideas about adoption wnd when anyone suppresses these as what happened with forced adoptions there are breaches of human rights.
Suppression silenced the mothers, they were all told individually and collectively "You don't have any
say whatsoever" when fact is they were primary caregivers, who were placed in suppressive, oppressive and coercive circumstances.
The groups have to start being inclusive if they want some kind of "alliance" and they also have to admit whose who and whose done what, also acknowledging the people who come to them and ask questions or need referal.
One woman has been ignored by one prominent group who say they are "sincere" "caring", how caring is ignoring your fellow man. I feel pity for this group and also sad for the person who has had to cop that kind of unwarranted conduct.
For all trhe individuals and collectives who have and do suffer from p.t.s.d. reactive depression or any other common symtoms from forced adoptions I send you my heartfelt condolences and want you to know there are many standing up for you and with social consciences.
If anyone in any group suppresses your voice, whether they be in a political group or an adoption support group feel the righteous anger at their destructiveness and move on and away from them.
All the very best with the Report outcome.
It's a tragic history Forced Adoptions and not one to be repeated.
Craig A.
Balmain
NSW Australia

There are cattle auctions in Australia and in the United Staes of America there are baby auctions today.
Forced adoptions in Australia found one mother given a photo of the adoptive parents beamimg a smile whilst in the background of the photo was an American flag.
The couple were Australian, this was not so long ago.
The mother who lost her son to that forced adoption has ridded the picture and always wondered why they chose to give her one with such an emblem on it.
Under what flag.
We've got a lot of work to do to stop Americanisation of Australia.
According to people in the know America is losing it.
Forced adoptions are tragdeies under any flag.
Simon (birth father and husband)

The Report is out and it's a large volume.
Forced Adoptions has been aired by individuals, and then groups.
Many people have contrbuted to the Senate Inquiry into forced adoptions, lone voices and small or larger groups.
A healthy does of confidence in one's own contribution is very good.
Group think can go astray if it has peer pressure elements or seeks to one-up other groups who have contributed.
What eventuated the Report, which as yet has not been followed through began with lone voices.
That the groups are squabbling about whose done the most or whose the leader and all this nonsense is not healthy.
The groups do not need an "Alliance" as the stories are all ultimately indivdiual and make up a "collective" which has enabled the public to become aware of forced adoptions.
Many voices from forced adoptions targets are in the Report and many are left outside of it.
There is now no need for adoption support groups to squabble about who did what as that's beside the point.
This needs to be looked at here "emotional intelligence" and who has this in these groups.
It stops the bickering and starts the process of dientangling pressures from one leader of a group to allow all the lone voices in any group to be included.
This includes dissident voices as well as "complying" or "agreeing" ones.
Fact: Senator Rachel Siewert instigated the Commonwealth Government Inquiry and from there it's upto individuals to look within and also amongst their professional advisors and friends or peers to understand the importance of what will satisfy them, with cooperation and social inclusion.
Conscionable cooperation and social inclusion was one huge missing link in forced adoptions.
I hope this contributes to getting rid of groups squabbling about whose better than who or whatever is going down with some of these groups that I've just read about. It serves no purpose.
Group dynamics has it's pitfalls, though no one can today say the groups have not done a gteat deal to support the Inquiry, as have individuals.
In Forced adoptions all the individual targets matter and it's very good Forced Adoptions has now been looked at collectively and will possibly continue to gain more voices, lone or groups.
Bret
(Ally, Confidante and Friend of two relinquishing mothers and their families with professional expertise in group dynamics.)

One woman a spokesperson for one adoption support group will not accept an apology from the Commonwealth government.
Many are wondering just what this woman Arthur wants.
Recognising that hurt can continue on and on with many factors of forced adoptions unless there is acknowledgement in the form of an apology, can this woman step back and reflect on how this may be affecting many many others who are hurting at this time and may hurt further if apologies is not forthcoming.
Does this woman want to suppress the many voices who would find great solace in an apology from Commonwealth, State, Terrirtory and institutions including corporations involved apologising?
Whats your problem Arthur do you want to disclose what it is you want, what will satisfy your needs?
For one woman to stand up and try to speak for many in this way, is erring on the side of dictating.
Let the public know what you want Arthur and then let those who need an apology and those who have recommended this as one part of the remedy of forced adoptions resolve
move forward and allow your voice to come forward as to what you want.
No one will disrespect your views and ideas Ms Arhur if they are reasonable and avert further hurt and suffering for the voctimisied of forced adoptions. Too many are hurting as this Inquiry has resurfaced a lot of trauma for them, they feel and it hurts. Many silent hidden ones are hirting and may find solace in am apology though we can't really know as they are still voiceless.
However, The Inquiry has made it possible for them to be recognised as humans worthy of dignity and recompense now.
All these people matter indivdividually and collectively.
Cheers
Abi)gail)
One women amongst others in an egalitarian group who sees an apology as acknowledgement and movement forward

A report is out and there are recommendations.
These recommendations need to be followed through and not left as a reseaerch project or filed away in some cabinet.
When do the Governments apologise, when do they start tangibly addressing the recommendations and making some substance out of this Report?
The governments and corporations need to walk the talk, or walk the writings of the Report.
Thanks
Bronwyn

It's not as simple as you say "the government will decide' Professor Judd. Just read you so called apology.
Even if forced adoptions didn't cross all socioeconomic divides, however it certainly did, there is possibility and plausability for Class action.
This has gone too far and although a national apology would benefit certain people as well as the other recommendations, lets not forget the magnitude of this social injustice and the documents that can be presented at courts for the law to finally decide.
Lesser injustices against humanity have gained class action attention and won.
If the government doesn't move there are people who will go to the courts, have no doubts about this one.
Lifelong psychological and therefore physical damage requires considerable apologies and all that goes with these. The law is there for everyone with forced adoptions.
It was there in a different way times gone by and for that there are many lawyers questioning their own roles.
Perhaps this is what Arthur, as one comment was asking, is after, or as she claims a further look at the vastness of forced adoptions and it's further unconscionable acts.
Medico Legal and other health and legal experts have now considered opinions on this topical issue and they're not all 'conservative right wing' thinkers.
Eric

I am amazed and empathetic at the amount of public anger and warm-hearted support this issue is generating.

At the same time I am saddened that not the same dimension of outpouring is happening about the suffering inflicted on Aborigines whose children were ripped from them.

The white navel is easier to gaze at than the coloured one.....

Whoever anon is and his/her outspew of rage about "white navel gazing" you need to go and check the facts.

Your issues if your not white are as valid as anyone's else's and all are being looked at however in different ways.

The White Stolen Generation is I beleive a wrong message, as fact is there were all diverse nationalities involved in forced adoptions.

Your anger stands out a mile anon, and why can;t you have the guts to put your name to it.
The harm and damage inflicted in Forced Adoptions is totally different to any Indigenous social injustice except for minor details, minutia.
Anon who wrote about "White Navel Gazin" have a look inside your own gutless, angry manner and then pour out your vile venom on others not forced adoptions sufferers.

Whoever said class action I am in agreeance, this is now needed I believe.
It's gone too far and damaged too many people's lives Forced adoptions.
Thanks Indy
Jack

To the author of "White and Black Navels" your passive aggressive statement is hardly worthy of being dignified with any response.
However, to inform you, there are vast differences in the two social injustices.
Unwed mothers who were with "white babies" (I too am saddened by this reality) were wanted by infertile or arrogant "married" couples who couldn't see beyond immediate gratification of their own needs at the devaststaing and damaging cost of the biological parents and infants.
These married couples (again sadly) didn't want anything less than a "white healthy baby" one from a girl or woman who was from that kind of culture, whether it be european, anglo whatever.
Often times the married couples had less real security than the unwed mother did, except the unwed mothers were abonadoned and without financial supports, many of them that is.

You write about empathy "anon" yet your words lack it.
You compare two very different social injustices.

If you care to take a look at Indymedia overall you will see a dearth of material addressed for supporting the original peoples of Australia. Look right and you'll see it all.

You will not find that dearth of material on Forced Adoptions.

The people who organised the Senate Inquiry into forced adoptions (the Greens) did so for vital reasons, and they were never negating what has been well and trully unearthed the stolen generations, they simply weren't looking at that at this time and are not with the Report or what went before that the inquiry.

"White Navel Gazing" how contemptuous and vicious your tongue is anon of 1/04/12 of 3.57pm.
You also give everyone a double message and that's the pefect example of a passive aggressive who compares where there is no comparison.
Research Forced Adoptions and find out the real truths before you try to make these kinds of "black and white" comparisons.
Forced Adoptions were illegal, it's almost been said and is on the tip of every conscionable persons tongues.

Whatever tramspired and still does with the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders is a totally different social injustice.
Leave them seperate as they are.
Your cutting tongue is vengeful and stupid, grow up, and stop hurting people further who are already hurting.

Indigenous issues are racial.
Forced adoptions was and are still about discriminations based on a girl or woman's marital status.
The only correllation is that both are breaches of human rights as according to Human Rights Commission, and both are most certainly negative discriminatory and in need of social justice today.

Go write to one of the other sights about your concerns and stop being so hostile to people you obviously have no understanding about. Passive aggressives bug me as they say I'm with you and then they blow you to pieces, nice work yet it doesn't work. You're known.
Jack you're spot on about anon.

Abi (gail)

I to find the comment from White and Black Navels repelling.
Don't you dare try that guilt on the forced adoptions targets.

Separate stories and separate social injustices and there is not as much "warmheartedness" as this anon seems to think there is regarding forced adoptions, otherwise they wouldn't have happened.

There is no reason to think the government have more concern for white ripped from their parents infants or their mothers who have been mourning too long, than anyone else who has had this happen to them.
The government, churchs and corporations neglected the mothers to the extreme in forced adoptions, and thereby also their infants.
This is a social issue in and of itself.

The Indigenous social issues have had more media than a lot of social issues.

All people have human rights and that the Senate Inquiry this time round was about *white" doesn't mean the original people are less worthy of having their voices raised also. They have and continue too, on and on until something is done to help them heal.
Two seaparate social wrongs though.

Anon you've brought in negativity and a form of your own discrimination here and that's mindless.
As if any of the birth mothers who were forced to relinquish their infants in Forced Adoptions or those who were adopted had any control over what the adoptive parents were wanting.
Ask the adoptive parents why they didn't want original people's infants and find out their prejudices, or go seek help with your overt anger and don't displace it on forced adoptions targets.
Marty

Even Chisholm has said the practices were illegal.
Many are stating and saying this.
An apology may be needed by law also.
Class Action a very good idea.
Forced adoptions is all about illegal impositions on unmarried biological mums and their babies which have had the most tragic long term consequences for those hurt and harmed by these wrongs.
This is an Australian shame that wont go away in a hurry.
We re-watched 4 Corners "Given or Taken?" and it's all there, the people who speak truth and are responsible conscionable, and those who are hiding behind their own shameful behaviours, no matter what "Social Work" policies were in place at the time.
Though it goes beyond just social workers, far beyond them alone.
Nerida P.

Men and women ought not be without principles.
Yet this concept seems to evade a lot of people.

There were principled people onlooking and observing the accumulative wrongs of forced adoptions, though I'm wondering why they were so few, or at the time many didn't stand by human principles, why they couldn't act to stop what transpired.
Principles matter.
They come into play with everyone with humanity.
And the old saying 'you can catch more flys with honey than vinegar' is deeper than influence and I believe means principled people attain more respect and real influence showing by thier principles they are authentically contributing to abolish any and all human injustices with Forced adoptions.
Not excluding a whole lot of other human injustices.
Having a higher self is more valuable than people in higher ranks rampantly coercing anyone to lose, including anyone's born children.
Adding this: The Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoptions Report should be in every Australian library.
Malcolm

Standards of living in this "Lucky" country are important.
Where were these standards by governments at state and commonwealth levels when forced adoptions occured? Where are they today as the great divide is too prominent to be unnoticed by all.
No one seems to have thought these pregnant birthing women girls and babies deserved any standard let alone human,just, fair and reasonable standards of living.
They were denied the basic human right to healthy standards of living.
And it doesn;t stop with Forced Adoptions.
This country is reknowned for it's cruelty and oppression, when it should be just the opposite,due to it's resources and place in the world.
Many mothers have lost more than their babies to Forced Adoptions.
When do the governments, churchs and corporations involved in Forced Adoption tragedies admit realistically they denied the birth parents and their babies ANY standard of living, in this supposedly "Lucky" country.
I smell a big rat in Forced Adoptions and too many people are covering up even as they know it was all illegal and a national disgrace.
Things have to change, and standards of living have to begin to matter to all Australians,and for all Australians a dexcent humane standards of living.
Thank You
Mark

As the Government has not, as yet, offered any of the recommendations in the Senate Inquiry into Forced Adoptions I would like to offer what I've found for anyone who may naturally feel more than very down with any form of depression whilst and after this whole saga has been made public and affected again the victimised, very traumatically.
No one seems to have metioned this or have I missed that?
The following is for anyone affected by forced adoptions who thinks they have or have been told they have depression, in it's many forms. Therapy is good and needed too.
Reactive depression is one big one for people who have been targets of bullying and anyone can see the victimised were bullied to a tragic extent.
There are other depressive orders and anxiety orders as Dr. Geoffrey Rickarby has outlined better than I can in his submission to an earlier Inquiry that went nowehere, because it wasn't raised properly and to the NSW state government, what can I say. I wont say it their not worth a word.

For the Balck Dog or depressions
Helpful Websites:
www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
www.beyondblue.org.au
www.moodgym.anu.edu.au
www.bluepages.anu.edu.au
www.thinkyourself happy.com
www.mentalhealth.org
www.headspace.org.au
www.learningmeditation.com
www.undoingdepression.com
www.depression.com.au

Anxiety and panic attacks can, often do follow forced adoptions as well as all regurgiatations of atrocious past social injustices therein.
The web links to these I will find and get back to you.

Lifeline is staffed by people who often have little training though 'some' have professional training, and possibly minimal understanding of the magnitude of heartache of forced adoptions unless it's their professional specialty, and I've found them without a lot of help for me, the few times I once had to phone them when I wanted to leave living after forced adoptions.
They are maybe one place to phone for brief emergency chats and referrals, and if they're not able to refer they should be. They can be a lifesaver for certain folk I'm told, not for all, their time is short given I found and with me rushed.

With every real empathy to the victimised as I personally understand from a position of experiencing the tragedy of forced adoptions in my life.
From a sufferer of the black dog and accumulative p.t.s.d. injury all with physical conditions linked I'm told, induced originally, ongoing, and to my horror resurfaced further by coerced and bullied, despicably negligent attitudes, discrimination of the most hostile and deplorable kind, policies and practices as was shown by 4 Corners and so many other media.
{On ABC 4 corners 'Given or Taken?' television there was the one elderly social worker with her 'BUT' too telling, I deliberately forgot her name, and I pity her.
Along with the doctor in denial because he has no conscience and doesn't want the medical profession to suffer, what a joke, and I'm definitely not writing here about the eminent Dr. Geoffrey Rickarby who has my respect because of all the many years of work he did working with, observing astutely, and writing about Forced adoptions.}
I'm not prepared to leave my name as there is also stigma with depression, I've suffered enough stigma because of my loss in forced adoptions I can do without publicly feeding my self to the wolves.
When you show your vulnerabilities to some people they will tear you apart, the sickest of sick who no one wants to treat usually, and who stand out a mile, you guessed it the bullies in all their different forms, ethical, physical thugs and other similar varieties

Good on you Independant News Media for having this helpful site.
I've learnt a lot from it recommending this to others I know.

To counterbalance a comment made anonymously prior to this one.
Today if anyone be they churchs, corporations or government deparments and authorities try to 'Tear the vulnerable from forced adoptions apart' as was one dimension of forced adoptions there are reliable remedies for you.

One contact for Compensation Law amongst others who are experts in 'discrimination Claims' law as well as other associated law follows

Turmer Freeman Lawyers
www.turnerfreeman.com.au
Phone (02) 8222 3333
NO WIN NO FEE

If you go over to Northcott a Housing Commission Estate in NSW you will come upon a tenant or two who have lost their babies to forced adoptions.
These women are today living in abject poverty and in a block known as the "Death trap" more than once signalled by well known and respected Australian Health Architects as unsafe and unhealthy for people to live in.
(In America they have got rid of these kinds of public housing for the reasons as above.)
Northcott is a huge block of units with a massive level of highly illicit drug trade and takings, with those windows and balconies that stand out a mile in their ugliness and unsafe structures showing how easy it would be to jump, and many have.
There have been many suicides here and all recorded.
The News Media appear unable to show just how low the self esteem and self growth has been for forced adoption targets who've been forced to live in abject poverty due to circumstances beyond their control, as well as lack of (in this instance NSW Government) protection of their vulnerabilities.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies might do well to gather the facts of how many forced adoptions targets are living below the poverty line today in this and similar social environments.
They might also see the news media has shown only examples of people who have at the very least been able to somehow survive financially and psychologically to be able to voice their views. The others have been left out of the inquiry and the bigger picture altogether. This is absurd.

On the other end of the spectrum there are the well to do birth mothers who have hidden their so called shame on family and society and become wealthy business or professional women who would never admit they ever had a baby they lost to adoption. To these birth mothers Family Adherence and status are more important than Autonomy or Truth.
The Australian Institute of family Studies would do well to consider these birth mothers also.

We the public to date know little of their adopted babies as these women have said little if nothing about their pregnancy and births.

The abject poverty bothers me the most as in this affluent Australia it simply shouldn't be.
Everyone without exception has the right to all the basics including safety, security in housing and definitely all the tenancy principles and regulations of quiet enjoyment of home. They have the right to grow and lead fulfilling lives not be stuck in what many have called "death traps" be they low of high density blocks of units.
All Australians have rights to not be ghettoised at all let alone to very damaging degrees. This is disgraceful.
These people also need advocates and it appears they are on the horizon.
What bullying, cruelty and deepest misery brought these "mothers" to such levels of living and how do we all admit Forced Adoptions has a face the news media is not showing, or not showing as yet.
Marion (Health Professional)

We want to know what are the motives of people who won't accept counseling one to one as one viable part of remedy for former forced adoptions victims? Do you only want money?

Non generic, client therapist good fit counselling has immense psychological bank balance/rewards, and other money 'alone' cannot heal the traumas, injuries, pains and anguish of former forced adoptions practices imposed on vulnerable birth mothers or their infants.
Cheers
Michael and family

Some of our most esteemed Australian citizens today have gone through continue to go through extensive counselling to find resolutions and add to their emotomal bank accountg and this has a rippling effect for many.
The law is good to bring in needed expertise, a given, yet money alone is not the solution.

In regards the women at places like Northcott, any other state public housing, they need monetary and emotional supports; there's a poverty social issue cause and effects of forced adoptions there, and terrible ones.
Our wondering about money for those who appear to have husbands, large families, pushy voices and money as well who want more, we don't understand. Counselling would help you not hinder your progress forward out of extreme anger at the grave injustices of coerced adoptions hopefully.
michael and family

What rubbish
half of the story that of the birth fathers has not been told.' The few men who admitted paternity were unusual.
Most fathers of young guileless adolescent girls intimidated into first sexual experience were ABANDONED not only by all authorities but most certainly by the men who spermed them.
These men are low life and truth can't be called 'daddy'.
The birth mothers have every right to claim being mothers.
For one woman I know the pattern repeated, and the father is a famous musician who never paid any maintenance and left her to a terrifying fate to fend for herself under intolerable circumstances. She came from affluence and was forced into poverty.
There's something pitiful about fathers now cliaming 'we really wanted our daughter's/son's, just not the beautiful mums they were threatened by because of their beauty, and that they had more conscience and humanity.
Sad truth is I know one woman as this who met another well known man (I wont name and shame, YET) who did likewise, and it was her second baby. She didnlt lose the baby that time but she lost so much as she placed trust in a man who vowed he loved her and would be there.
The Women's movement should look at forced adoptions with more than 'oh you foolish girls' as there is no such thing as being naive, you only learn from experience; and the second time round the con man admitted an untrue love.
The takers, so many 'takers' from girls and women and their children in Forced Adoptions it sickens me.
Give back to them what they now deserve; honesty, integrity, dignity and civil human generosity.

To take by force a girls virginity whether she be beautifully intelligent or otherwise was one of the reasons some animel men took advantage of guileless girls - used them for their primitive needs, bragged amongst their peers and were rewarded fr this, then threw the pregnant adolescent girls away.
It happened in many Australian suburbs, with no divisions of socioeconomics.
The horror of this is to this day there are still people pointing their pious fingers at the girls as if they were 'bad.
This is so unjust I'm angry as hell. I have a daughter.
Here it's not about two adolescent girls and boys I write it's when men took advantage and young adolescent girls had to pay the tragic price of great loss at gung-ho men's primitive, selfish needs.
That there were laws for Carnal Knowledge they existed because of these men, yet what young girl had any voice, choice or any supports (as many have said) to speak up about her lawful rights to safety and rights to raise her own infant, under these original conditions of unconscionable coercion, and as it continued by "Authorities" all unable to be accountable for their own terrible wrongs against these basically girls.
Shame on these animal men.
Rape is a crime just as government, corporation, church and medical rape is likewise. The law has to step in here.
I'm unsure about Freeman Turner, there are many others.

In hope of justice for the mums and babies, and the few men who were supportive and loving to their impregnated.

Cheers
Mel

One of the reasons this Senate Inquiry and Report has taken so long to come out is because of the so called men who fled the scene of their carnal knowledge crimes.
I'm a father too, and if a man did this to my daughter I'd be the first to call in the law.
Leave vulnerable girls and women alone.
Go for the rough, tough and mean, and back off bullys.
If you go near my daughter heaven help you.

The thing about former forced adoptions is the parents were not allowed any voices, I mean the parents of the Adolecsent mums.
We watcehd a film called "An Education" and included our daughter in the evening.
What if in real life as the movie shows the adolescent girl fell pregnant, at 17 years, to that con man?
We're all concerned schools, churchs, corporations and public servants start treating "Mothers" as no not idealized yet as very sigbnificant people. My wife is to me, and to her children a very good mum.
Good mothers are treasures, nothing less, allow them to be.
Thankyou
Philip

I have been reading about this 'cause a relative is badly affected.
Came upon Women's Weekly and in it journalism by Kerry Warren 28.03.12 named 'Forced Adoption Broke My Mother and I will Never Recover'.
It's so sad I cried and felt like writing to a whole lot of media to start telling more truths about forced adoptions.
They haven't mentioned the whole picture, just some of it.
Sure the Report is out, but what's being done about this.
It's not sensational it's real life tragedies,
Truth and honesty in news is now being asked for more and more and this wont stop.
My heart goes out to the mum who was totally desroyed and her daughter.
Kate

Even if you have social capital that is enviable going along to professional therapy after experiencing forced adoption is a boon to almost anyone.
That is if you have the right therapist or analyst.
Choose carefully as Dr. Scott Peck [and most others] said in The Road less Travelled.

Reason: Forced Adoptions broke a lot of mothers and they all need an objective therapist to unravel the angusih and VERY profiund trauma.

Had the mother from the Women's Weekly article attended therapy and not been so alone, she may not have suffered as much horrifying pain as she did, though I'm sad she did.
For the daughter I feel equally sad, and again recommend therapy as well as keeping socially connected.
Men find it hard as they perceive therapy as for the weak (whoever they are) or the very sick, and that's untrue.
If Abnormal events happen to you or profound and unexpected grief happens therapy is a viable and good choice to help you through your valuable journey.
The unconscionable do PAY as they hurt people to an extreme and were, still are in positions of 'power'.
What pitiful souls they are abusing that power.
Best
simson

I remember when Chaos Corruption and abuse going together was first told to me.
I was a student and it matters not in what discipline, I heard the words and their meanings and decided I stood outside all of that. Clarity and truth is utter priority with all governments.
They're there for the people, not themselves.
The Government. Coprs. and Churchs do not stand outside all of it and forced adoptions are illegal.
This has been verified by too many.
The trouble with governments admitting they ever do any wrongs and they're doing and have done too many is they find it too hard, 'cause their own reputations are on the line. They are known for doing wrong though.
Why did Forced Adoptions happen?
Because that kind of thinking 'the vulnerable we can hurt without being questioned' was and still is prevalent.
I know now why the Greens will probably win the next Federal election becuaes the Governments of the day in all spheres are highly corrupt, chaotic and abusive.
Don;t they dare target again the victimised in forced adoptions, as one commentor wrote.
If they do the Law at it's highest steps in.

I'm related to a judge and he also is concerned about all this we've spoken about Forced adoptions and adoptions generallly in Australia often
Apologies and recompense to all the vioctimised and no scapegaoting them again.
They've certainlly been made wrong when it was others who were the wrongdoers.
Lance