ACT to apologise to mothers forced to give up babies

The ACT Legislative Assembly has passed a motion calling for an apology to women affected by forced adoptions. Greens Leader Meredith Hunter put forward the motion to recognise women who were forced to give up their babies under past Commonwealth policies between the 1940s and 1980s.
Ms Hunter told the Assembly a national inquiry should be conducted and the ACT Government should also apologise to those affected. "We have a responsibility to understand what happened and to do our best to ease that suffering," she said.

Community Services Minister Joy Burch amended the motion so the Government apologises on behalf of the Assembly and the wider community. "It's incumbent on all members to apologise as well as the Government," she said.

Western Australia made a similar apology earlier this month