I was honoured to witness the Prime Minister Julia Gillard apologise to mothers, fathers and children for past forced adoption practices.
The apology was a fitting tribute to the families affected by these past practises. It directly acknowldged the wrongs of the past.
As the PM eloquently said in the formal motion ‘Today, this Parliament, on behalf of the Australian people, takes responsibility and apologises for the policies and practices that forced the separation of mothers from their babies, which created a lifelong legacy of pain and suffering.’
She also said in her own remarks. “This story had its beginnings in a wrongful belief that women could be separated from their babies and it would all be for the best.”
It is also important that this apology comes with a commitment of resources for counselling to support people impacted by these practices and to protect records that can help families piece their past together.