❓ A parliamentary question addresses the implementation of recommendations from the 'Inquiry into Past Forced Adoption in Western Australia', seeking timelines, justifications, and updates on redress schemes and records access.
AnsweredQoN 361Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the recent 'Report 66 – Broken Bonds, Fractured Lives: Inquiry into Past Forced Adoption in Western Australia', in which 36 recommendations were directed to the Western Australian Government, and I ask: (a) will the Minister provide a timeline for implementing the 19 supported recommendations; (b) can the Minister outline why three recommendations were not supported; (c) when will decisions be made on the 14 recommendations still under further consideration, including the redress scheme and records access; (d) will the Minister table the terms of reference for the Forced Adoption Reference Group; (e) has the Government set a timeline to establish a redress scheme, as recommended in items 20 to 22; (f) if no to (e), why not; and (g) if yes to (e), will it be established in this term of Government?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2025
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Child Protection
Response time
1 days
(a) The State Government is progressing the implementation of the 19 supported recommendations through the establishment of the Past Forced Adoption Interagency Implementation Working Group and the Western Australian Forced Adoption Reference Group. The timeline for the completion of these recommendations is dependent on factors including consultation with the Reference Group which held its first meeting on 13 June 2025.
(b) The decision of the State Government to not support recommendations 33, 34 and 36 was informed by consideration of a range of complex legal, ethical and logistical considerations. The decision not to support these recommendations considered the rights and psychological safety of all parties to an adoption, including the need to safeguard children and young people and adults from exposure to actions that could harm their wellbeing.
(c) The State Government is continuing to review the range of legislative, policy and practice considerations to finalise a position on the 14 recommendations requiring further consideration, including redress and access to records. Several practice and policy changes have already been implemented by the Department of Communities to improve access to adoption records, including additional staff to reduce the wait-time to access adoption records and information.
(d) The draft Terms of Reference for Western Australian Forced Adoption Reference Group are currently being considered by the members of the Reference Group.
(e - g) The State Government is committed to considering the recommendations relating to redress in full, and this requires careful consideration and time.
(b) The decision of the State Government to not support recommendations 33, 34 and 36 was informed by consideration of a range of complex legal, ethical and logistical considerations. The decision not to support these recommendations considered the rights and psychological safety of all parties to an adoption, including the need to safeguard children and young people and adults from exposure to actions that could harm their wellbeing.
(c) The State Government is continuing to review the range of legislative, policy and practice considerations to finalise a position on the 14 recommendations requiring further consideration, including redress and access to records. Several practice and policy changes have already been implemented by the Department of Communities to improve access to adoption records, including additional staff to reduce the wait-time to access adoption records and information.
(d) The draft Terms of Reference for Western Australian Forced Adoption Reference Group are currently being considered by the members of the Reference Group.
(e - g) The State Government is committed to considering the recommendations relating to redress in full, and this requires careful consideration and time.
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