Thursday, 2 November 2023

Ministers statements: historical forced adoption redress scheme

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:17): I would like to update the house today on the progress of responding to the parliamentary inquiry into historical forced adoption practices in Victoria. Last week I had the deep personal privilege – it was an enormous privilege – of announcing the government’s allocation of more than $138 million to support an Australian-first historical forced adoption redress scheme. The scheme will provide redress payments of $30,000, counselling and psychological support as well as individual apologies. Mothers affected by forced adoption practices who gave birth prior to 1990 are eligible to apply for the scheme.

I visited the Taken Not Given memorial in St Andrews Place, which is not far from here. If anyone has not had the opportunity to visit it, I would encourage you to do so. I was joined by mothers Jo, Carol, Glen, Sheryl and Thelma, where we discussed the scheme and the journey these mothers have come on to get to this point, including giving evidence at the inquiry, which commenced in 2019. I would like to acknowledge the difficulty in talking about such a sensitive and distressing subject and thank the women that I have met for their courage and bravery in speaking about their experiences. The cruel practices they were subjected to have had a lifelong impact, as many of the women who are affected were very young when the events occurred. No amount of financial payment or counselling support can ever compensate mothers for the loss of their child. However, this scheme is a way to acknowledge the harm and injustices that were suffered, and it was developed hand in glove with these mothers.

We are also providing an uplift in funding for post-adoption support services, with an additional $530,000 in funding for the Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self Help, known to many as VANISH, to support anyone who was affected by historical forced adoption practices, including adoptees. I would like to thank Charlotte Smith, the VANISH CEO, who was also present at the event at the memorial, for providing valuable reassurance and support to many people affected by forced adoption.