Disability, domestic violence a ‘catch-22’ as Indigenous children removed from mothers, royal commission hears

Babies are being removed at birth from First Nations mothers living with disabilities, the disability royal commission has heard.

Thelma Schwartz, the principal legal officer at the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service, has told the Commonwealth inquiry the child protection system is “bleak” and in “crisis”.

Giving evidence in Brisbane, Ms Schwartz said she had witnessed the removal of Indigenous babies first hand.

“I would call it a…