Forced adoption survivor Jennifer McRae is celebrating after a few long, hard years.
McRae, who was forcefully removed from her unmarried mother in 1972, led the charge for the inquiry in WA, which began as a petition.
“It’s been a really long wait,” she tells 9News. “It got tabled earlier than we thought it would be, so this is good news on many fronts.”
McRae led a group of fellow survivors who were there in person to hear the inquiry’s recommendations. She described the recommendations as “pretty impressive”.
McRae reunited with her birth mother at age 19 and says today’s result was thanks to their generation.
From the 1930s until 1980s, tens of thousands of newborn babies were stripped from their mothers without consent, mostly from parents who were unmarried.
The Environment and Public Affairs Committee report was tabled in parliament today and found financial redress and specialised counselling was recommended for mothers, the now-adult children and some fathers.
If it is endorsed by the government, the redress scheme in WA will be the most far-reaching in Australian history.
Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard delivered a national apology in 2013 to victims of forced adoption practices.
In a significant victory for forced adoption survivors, a parliamentary inquiry in Western Australia has recommended a financial redress scheme for those affected by the traumatic practice. Led by survivor Jennifer McRae, who was forcibly removed from her mother in 1972, the inquiry’s recommendations have been described as “impressive.” This marks a historic moment, 14 years after WA officially apologized for forced adoptions.
The report includes lived-experience evidence from 80 accounts of forced adoption in WA, shedding light on the trauma faced by mothers and children. The proposed redress scheme, if approved by the government, would be the most comprehensive in Australian history. This landmark decision follows a similar scheme in Victoria, highlighting a growing recognition of the impact on survivors.
Jennifer McRae’s perseverance and advocacy have paved the way for this crucial development, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and acknowledgment of the past. Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s national apology in 2013 further underscores the significance of addressing the historical injustices faced by those affected by forced adoption.
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