Forced adoption, also known as the White Stolen Generations refers to unmarried mothers who had their babies taken from them at birth against their will. In Australia, former Prime Minister Julia Gillard offered a national apology to those affected by forced adoptions in 2013[1]. The Senate Inquiry Report into forced adoption practices found that babies were taken illegally by doctors, nurses, social workers and religious figures, sometimes with the assistance of adoption agencies or other authorities, and adopted out to married couples. Mothers were coerced, drugged and illegally had their consent taken[2]. Many of these adoptions occurred after the mothers were sent away by their families "due to the stigma associated with being pregnant and unmarried".[3] The removals occurred predominately in the second half of the twentieth century as some young mothers who were seen as unfit for motherhood had their children adopted out against their will. It was a practice which has been described as 'institutionalised baby farming'.
Modern adoption is a peculiarly twentieth century phenomenon, with most adoptions taking place between the 1950s and the 1970s. For much of this period, adoption had two key features: the application of "clean break theory", and the framework of "closed adoption". Clean break theory involved the removal of a baby from the mother immediately after birth, often with no contact taking place between parent and child, followed by permanent placement of the baby with an adopting family within a period of several weeks. Closed adoption involved the sealing of the record of adoption. Records were thus closed, so that the parties to the adoption remained permanently unaware of the identity of the others.[4]
There are no precise estimates of the number of adoptions that took place in Australia, with estimates of around 250,000 being feasible. An unknown proportion of these adoptions involved the placement of the babies of single mothers.[5]
Because of the stigma attached to being born out of wedlock, and the absence of any financial support for single mothers, there was a widespread view at the time that adopting out the babies of unmarried mothers was in the 'best interests of the child'.[6]
On 19 October 2010, Western Australia became the first state in Australia to apologise for forced adoption policies of babies born to unwed mothers. "I now apologise to the mothers, their children and families who were adversely affected by these adoption practices," Colin Barnett said.[7]
On 18 July 2012, South Australia became the second state to formally apologise for forced adoption. "Our apology will recognise that those practices directly affected many of those parents whose children were adopted by force and many of those people who were separated from their parents as children," said Premier Jay Weatherill. "This apology is long overdue but we hope it will be a significant moment for those affected." It is estimated more than 17,000 children were adopted out before 1980 and some of these involved forced adoption practices.[8]
The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly endorsed a formal apology, delivered by Chief Minister Katy Gallagher, on 14 August 2012.[9]
On 20 September 2012, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell delivered an apology to the parents and children who were affected by past forced adoption policies.[10] This apology was passed as a resolution of both chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales.[11]
On 25 October 2012, the Victorian parliament apologised for forced adoption practices. The apologies were delivered by Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu and opposition leader Daniel Andrews. "We express our sincere sorrow," the Premier told parliament. "These were misguided, unwarranted and they caused immeasurable pain. Today Victoria parliament is standing up and saying sorry."[12]
Other governments have announced their intentions to deliver apologies. The Commonwealth government was the first to do so, on 23 June 2012, though no date was set for the event.[13] On 6 August 2012, Tasmania announced that it would present a formal apology over forced adoption policies.[14] and on 23 August 2012, the Queensland government announced that it would also deliver an apology through the Parliament of Queensland, this leaving the Northern Territory as the only jurisdiction not to apologise, or announce a forthcoming apology on the matter.[15]
On 21 March 2013, Julia Gillard apologised on behalf of the Australian Federal Parliament.[16] The National Archives of Australia has been commissioned to develop a website and exhibition to increase understanding of forced adoption practices in Australia, as recommended in the Senate report. [17]