Page 5115 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Women) (10.58): Thank you, Ms Hunter, for your motion today. Children’s Week is a time to reflect and celebrate the rights of children to enjoy their childhood. I have watched with interest the apology made by the Western Australian government to the mothers, children and families of that state for previous adoption practices. The stories were indeed heart-wrenching. It is hard to contemplate the deep personal loss of having a baby removed from your care without your consent. Fortunately, this practice stands in stark contrast to the ACT’s current policies on adoption, and how we support mothers and children to bond and grow into healthy families.
I am pleased today that the crossbench has recognised the successes of the ACT government’s carers program run through the Canberra college. Through the program, education and support are provided to young carers, pregnant and parenting students and students experiencing significant life changes and challenges that pose barriers to the continuation of their education.
This program is best practice. The nation is looking to the ACT to improve how it engages young mothers in education and how that can provide a benefit to the children as well. We know that those young mothers are often at difficult times in their lives. But there was a time when those mothers were not supported. I have not personally had representations made to me about past adoption practices in the territory. That is not to say that these brutal practices were not applied prior to self-government. In supporting this motion I recognise that they probably occurred.
Adoption in the ACT was historically managed and regulated by New South Wales authorities until 1966, when this responsibility was transferred to the commonwealth government. Child welfare in the ACT applied commonwealth legislation, while services were offered by both the commonwealth and New South Wales.
In 1988, with the passing of self-government, these responsibilities were transferred to the ACT government. Self-government for the ACT brought about the implementation and development of an extensive range of legislation concerning the care and wellbeing of children in the ACT. This included the implementation in 1988 of the Children’s Services Act 1986 and the enacting and implementation of the ACT Adoption Act 1993.
The ACT government focus has been on improving the services and supports provided to children, parents and their families. The act included provisions such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander placement principle, access to origins information for all and open adoption where birth parents could remain informed or in contact with their child and recognition of the overarching principles of the “best interests” of the child being paramount.
The act also provided for the establishment of the Adoption Information Service to provide counselling, support, information and assistance to facilitate reunions between affected people as required. The government has also ensured that our adoption legislation is consistent with the Children and Young People Act 2008 and integrates the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video