- State Government releases first annual Progress Report on Report 66 - Broken Bonds, Fractured Lives: Report on the Inquiry into Past Forced Adoption in Western Australia
- 75 per cent of recommendations either completed or underway in the first 12 months
- State Government committed to improving outcomes for people impacted by past forced adoptions
The State Government has today released its first annual Progress Report on the Government Response to Report 66 - Broken Bonds, Fractured Lives: Report on the Inquiry into Past Forced Adoption in Western Australia.
In the first 12 months, 75 per cent of supported recommendations have either been completed or are underway by the State Government to address the historic harms of past forced adoption practices.
Seven recommendations have been completed, with work in progress on a further 20 recommendations.
As part of the Progress Report, the State Government has also updated five recommendations from 'further consideration required' to 'supported' or 'supported in-principle'.
As an immediate priority, the State Government established the Western Australian Forced Adoption Reference Group (the Reference Group) in 2024.
The Reference Group was established to provide advice to the government and ensure that people with lived experience have a central role in shaping the legislation, policies, and practices that impact them.
Other completed actions include improving access to information and records, providing information on adoption data and legislation, increasing awareness of mental health and support services, and enhancing consistency across service delivery.
The State Government welcomed the findings and recommendations of Report 66 in October 2024, with the majority of recommendations supported or supported in-principle.
The inquiry was an important opportunity for people impacted by forced adoption to be heard, listened to and to have their personal experiences publicly recorded.
The State Government is committed to ensuring the remaining supported recommendations in the Government Response are implemented to address the longstanding impacts of forced adoption in WA.
The Progress Report can be found at www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/annual-implementation-progress-report-of-the-government-response-report-66-broken-bonds-fractured-lives
As stated by Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski:
"The Cook Labor Government is determined to improve outcomes for people impacted by forced adoption.
"On 19 October 2010, the Parliament of Western Australia was the first in Australia to apologise to the mothers, adopted people and families who were adversely affected by past adoption practices,
"Today we have released our 12-month Progress Report on the Government Response to Report 66 - Broken Bonds, Fractured Lives, highlighting the important progress that has been made to address the impacts of past forced adoption practices.
"The Cook Government is committed to healing past hurts and to supporting individuals and their families impacted by forced adoption, with 75 per cent of recommendations either completed or underway in the first 12 months.
"We have made significant progress, including supporting or supporting in-principle an additional five recommendations, and this work will continue.
"On behalf of the Cook Government, I acknowledge the extraordinary courage and determination of the many mothers, fathers, adopted people, and their families who bravely shared their stories as part of this inquiry."
