The Victorian parliament has apologised to people harmed by "disgraceful, ill-conceived" past adoption practices that forcibly removed tens of thousands of babies from their mothers.
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In a joint parliamentary sitting, premier Ted Baillieu apologised for the "trauma, pain and loss" experienced by victims of past adoption practices.
"To the mothers and fathers who were denied the opportunity to love and care for your children, and for the pain and trauma you experienced, we are deeply sorry. For the sons and daughters for whom adoption meant continual anxiety, uncertainty and the deprivation of a natural family connection, we offer our sincere apology."
The apology follows an inquiry by the federal senate earlier this year that found up to 250,000 babies were relinquished for adoption from the 1950's to the 1970's, the vast majority from young, unmarried women.
Mothers and adopted sons and daughters packed into the public gallery, many dabbing their eyes with tissues.
Mr Baillieu said the hurt, fear and pain experienced by victims of forced adoption was ongoing and unfair.
"The blame is heartbreaking and the resentment is a burden of unspeakable hardship ... the basis of these actions remains... wrong, disgraceful, ill-conceived and in some cases illegal."
Opposition leader Daniel Andrews said a generation of sons and daughters had been denied their mothers.
"These are women whose newborns were taken from them, these are women who were given sleeping pills in the safety of a local doctors clinic and woke up in a secure institution for unwed mothers," he said.
"These are women who were drugged and pressured until they signed adoption papers ... who gave birth while tied to a bed, who had sheets and pillows fixed to their face so they never saw their baby."
Minister for Mental Health, Women's Affairs and Community Services Mary Wooldridge said as of today, there would be no fees for adopted people searching for their parents, and changes would be made to the Adoption Act to let birth mothers access identifying information about their adopted adult sons and daughters.
Her announcement was meet with cries of joy from the audience.
The joint sitting of parliament also heard speeches by Greens MLC Greg Barber, Leader of the Nationals Peter Ryan and Pascoe Vale MP Christine Campbell.
The apology was also screened to hundreds more women, sons and daughters who were seated at Queens Hall and the Windsor Hotel.
Hundred of children's shoes lined the steps of parliament where victims gathered before the joint-hearing.
