Forced adoption victims welcome apology

23 Aug 2012, 6:45 pm   -   Source: AAP

Queensland women and children whose lives were disrupted by forced adoptions are pleased their pain will finally be formally acknowledged.

Queensland victims of forced adoptions will be happy to hear a long-awaited apology from the government, but they say it won't erase their emotional pain.

Brisbane adoptee Angela Barra says she was overwhelmed that Premier Campbell Newman referred to her story in parliament when he announced on Thursday that the government would formally acknowledge affected families.

"I'm actually thrilled that he actually read my correspondence," an elated Ms Barra told AAP.

"It's a big day. I'm happy, but I'm also anxious because the wording of the apology needs to ensure that it meets the recommendations of the (February) Senate inquiry (into forced adoptions)."

Mr Newman made reference to a woman from his Ashgrove electorate and a Brisbane girl born in 1967 - Ms Barra - who suffered anxiety as a result of forced adoption.

"While we cannot change what happened in the past, we hope an apology will acknowledge the role of past Queensland governments and practices now recognised as wrong," Mr Newman said in parliament on Thursday.

But Ms Barra warned the apology could cause further harm if it was not worded with care.

"If it's dismissive and doesn't speak about the illegal practices that happened, then it's not worth the paper it's written on," she said.

The 46-year-old gave evidence to the Senate review which found forced adoptions were widespread across Australia from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Her mother Pam fell pregnant at 18 and believes she was heavily drugged at Brisbane's Mater Hospital so her daughter could be taken from her.

Ms Barra says both she and her mother have experienced profound emotional pain and anxiety as a result of their separation.

An estimated 150,000 Australian babies were taken from their mostly young and single mothers, and a formal apology to those affected was one of the main recommendations of the inquiry.

Ms Barra says while the apology wouldn't erase the hurt, it would be a positive step.

South Australia has already issued a parliamentary apology, while NSW and Victoria have flagged formal acknowledgments.

A Brisbane mother whose child was taken forcibly from her said her support group of people affected by forced adoptions was thrilled at the news.

Margaret Oakhill-Hamilton said the organisation of around 40 people, ALAS Australia, has been fighting for an apology for decades.

"We're absolutely delighted," she told AAP.

Adoption counsellor Susan Kelly from the Benevolent Society, which is funded by the state government, said unacknowledged grief from forced adoption had the potential to disrupt lives in the long term.

An apology was a very strong acknowledgment of practices that occurred in the past, she said.

"I think that it can be the beginning of the healing."

A spokesman for the Department of Communities said the apology would be made in parliament at a date yet to be fixed.

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