Reporter Adam Hegarty fought back tears after listening to an Australian mother recount how she was forced to return her daughter to an allegedly abusive father overseas. The 60 Minutes veteran covered stories of multiple women whose children were legally taken under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
Controversy Surrounding the Hague Convention
While the treaty, which Australia is a signatory of, was designed to protect children by preventing one parent from unlawfully taking a child across international borders, it has garnered criticism for not accounting for women fleeing domestic violence.
Joanne, a pseudonym to protect her identity, revealed that in 2023, just a few days before Christmas, her young daughter was literally ripped from her arms and flown back to her father overseas after she lost a Hague order. The moment was filmed by authorities, and although she cannot watch the clip, she played the audio for Hegarty, which captured her daughter sobbing uncontrollably and begging her mother to 'not let them take me'.
Emotional Impact on the Journalist
'What hurts the most listening back to that?' Hegarty asked. 'The pain in her voice,' Joanne replied. 'I felt that,' a visibly emotional Hegarty responded.
Lawyer and advocate Dr Gina Masterton, who has dealt with similar cases for years, told the program that background checks on the fathers are cursory at best. 'He could be a Colombian drug lord. He could be running a motorcycle gang,' she said. 'It's just he checks three boxes on an application, and within six to eight weeks, the child's on a plane.'
Calls for Legal Reform
She is among a growing number of voices calling for the Australian government to review the law so that domestic violence concerns are given more weight. The federal attorney-general, Michelle Rowland, said the law was complex but the safety of children was paramount for the government.
'The Albanese Government is committed to protecting women and children, especially those fleeing family and domestic violence,' she said. 'We recognise the Hague Convention is relied upon in complex and distressing circumstances for all parties. While it would be inappropriate to comment on individual matters, the Government remains committed to ensuring the safe implementation of the Convention and has taken action to improve its application in Australia, particularly for women and children fleeing family violence.'
