Australia apologies to child migrants
Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd apologises
Monday, 16, Nov 2009 09:39
By Richard James.
Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd has apologised to thousands of people, many of them former British migrants, who were forcibly shipped to Australia as children and abused while in care.
More than 150,000 British children from deprived backgrounds were sent to Commonwealth countries only to later face abuse.
In a historic speech on Monday Mr Rudd apologised to around 900 former migrants in a ceremony in the capital Canberra.
"We come together today to offer our nation's apology," he said.
"We are sorry. Sorry that, as children, you were taken from your families and placed in institutions where so often you were abused.
"Sorry for the physical suffering, the emotional starvation and the cold absence of love, of tenderness, of care.
"Sorry for the tragedy, the absolute tragedy of childhoods lost."
Mr Rudd added: "Let us resolve this day that this national apology becomes a turning point in our nation's story.
"A turning point for shattered lives, a turning point for governments at all levels and of every political hue and colour to do all in our power to never allow this to happen again."
Mr Rudd's statement comes as Gordon Brown prepares to apologise to tens of thousands of children forcibly sent to Commonwealth states during the last decade.
The prime minister's apology is due to be made in the new year.
At least 150,000 children are believed to have been moved abroad, mainly to Australia and Canada beginning in the 1920s for almost the next 50 years.