p>The national apology by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, to the mothers and children affected by forced adoption in Australia was attended by people from Ballarat and region.
Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said today she welcomed the apology, which is particularly significant for a number of mothers and children living in Ballarat and region who adversely were affected by forced adoption.
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The national apology by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, to the mothers and children affected by forced adoption in Australia was attended by people from Ballarat and region.
Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said today she welcomed the apology, which is particularly significant for a number of mothers and children living in Ballarat and region who adversely were affected by forced adoption.
Ms King met in Parliament House this week with Mr Murray Legro, who was impacted by past forced adoption policies.
“It is important that there are people from our region here to witness this important event for our nation and I hope that many more people who can’t be here will follow this through the media,” Ms King said.
“From the 1950s to the 1970s, at least 150,000 unwed Australian mothers had their babies taken from them by churches and adoption agencies.
“Those making the decisions at the time may have thought they were acting in the interests of the child and mother, but we know now they clearly were not.
“This apology is a most appropriate response by the Parliament of Australia and was a key recommendation of a Senate Report into the Commonwealth Contribution to Former Forced Adoption Policies and Practices, released in February last year.
“The Government has provided $120,000 in support to funding and advocacy groups to assist people affected by forced adoption to attend the apology.”
The apology was delivered this morning at an event in the Great Hall of Parliament House at 10.30 am, with a Motion of Apology to be later moved in the House of Representatives and the Senate.