- The Cook Labor Government is progressing reform to enable survivors of past forced adoption to access Integrated Birth Certificates
- Reform coincides with 2nd annual progress report
- Cook Labor Government funding $2.3 million improvements for digitisation and quality of record keeping information
The Cook Labor Government is progressing important legislative reform to enable survivors of past forced adoption to access Integrated Birth Certificates, a key recommendation of Report 66 – Broken Bonds Fractured Lives.
The reform has coincided with the tabling of the Cook Labor Government’s second annual progress report which details further outcomes and milestones in response to the historic harms of past forced adoption practices.
The introduction of Integrated Birth Certificates is consistent with the Cook Labor Government’s commitment to open adoption and will support an adopted person’s right to know their biological origins and full history.
Implementation will provide for an official identity document to bring together an adopted person’s complete birth registration history.
Important progress has also been made to improve access to adoption information. Regulation 86 of the Adoption Regulations 1995 has been deleted to improve access to Family Court records.
The change has enabled eligible parties to access a broader scope of the adoption court record.
The Cook Labor Government has also committed $2.3 million funding to enable the digitisation of records, to improve access, record quality and enable long term preservation.
The WA Forced Adoption Reference Group continue to provide significant and valuable contributions, across a range of recommendations, including the public awareness campaign and recommissioning of adoption services.
The tabling of the Second Progress Report demonstrates the commitment of the government to enact meaningful and purposeful change, and ensure past wrongs are acknowledged and never repeated.
As stated by Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski:
“The Cook Labor Government continues to work closely with the WA Forced Adoption Reference Group to drive improvements and reforms for survivors and families.
“Delivering on Integrated Birth Certificates is a deeply important outcome for the Cook Labor Government and we will continue to champion this cause.
“We continue to advocate for better outcomes and access to records and information for all survivors of forced adoption.”
As stated by Attorney General Tony Buti:
“The government established the Western Australian Forced Adoption Reference Group to ensure people with lived experience of forced adoption have a central role in shaping the legislation, policies and practices that impact them.
“It is important that people impacted by historic forced adoption are heard and supported and Integrated Birth Certificates will now give adopted people choice regarding the details which appear on their identity documents.
“The introduction of Integrated Birth Certificates is an important step in delivering meaningful reform.”
