Australia Rudd sorry

AAP
November 16, 2009 11:35am

KEVIN Rudd has apologised to thousands of Australians who suffered in state and church care, saying the nation looked back in shame.

The Prime Minister said sorry with Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull for the abuses children suffered up until the late 1970s.

The audience included former child migrants separated from their families in Britain and shipped to Australia, as well as others placed with foster parents or in orphanages run by the states and churches.

Many suffered ill-treatment and some sexual abuse. They have been dubbed the "forgotten Australians".

Mr Rudd told those gathered that Australia was "sorry for the physical suffering, emotional starvation and the cold absence of love, of tenderness, of care".

"As a nation we must now reflect on those who did not receive proper care.

"We look back with shame that so many of you were left cold, hungry and alone and with nowhere to hide and nobody, absolutely nobody, to whom to turn."

Mr Rudd acknowledged the pain of children shipped to Australia as migrants.

"Robbed of your families, robbed of your homeland, regarded not as innocent children, but regarded instead as a source of child labour.

"To those of you who were told you were orphans, brought here without your parents' knowledge or consent, we acknowledge the lies you were told, the lies told to your mothers, fathers and the pain these lies have caused for a lifetime."

Earlier today, Family First Senator Steve Fielding told how he was sexually abused as a child.

He revealed his experience after being asked if the word "sorry" would be enough for children who were placed in foster and institutionalised care.

"I was sexually abused as a child by a scoutmaster for years," he said, adding his heart went out to anyone with a similar experience.

"I have very strong emotions and feelings on this issue."

But providing victims with compensation was a separate issue to the apology, he said.