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Australia rues 'abuse of young' Australia 'sorry' for child abuse
(about 6 hours later)
Australia's PM is to make a national apology to the "forgotten Australians" - about 500,000 people who were abused or neglected in state care as children. Australian PM Kevin Rudd has apologised to the hundreds of thousands of people, some British migrants, who were abused or neglected in state care as children.
Kevin Rudd will also apologise to child migrants taken from the UK to Australia after the war, often without their parents' consent. Mr Rudd said he was "deeply sorry" for the pain caused to the children and their extended families.
The Canberra ceremony is expected to be attended by hundreds of people forced to migrate when young. He said he hoped the national apology would help to "heal the pain" and be a turning point in Australian history.
An estimated 30,000 UK children arrived in Australia during the 20th Century. Some 500,000 "forgotten Australians" were abused or neglected in orphanages and children's homes from 1930 to 1970.
The Canberra ceremony is being attended by hundreds of people forced to migrate to Australia when young.
Sandra Anker was sent out to Australia when she was six years old
Kevin Rudd is also offering an apology to child migrants taken from the UK to Australia after the war, often without their parents' consent.
On Sunday, the UK government said the British prime minister would apologise for the forced migration policy next year.On Sunday, the UK government said the British prime minister would apologise for the forced migration policy next year.
Mr Rudd will recognise the mistreatment and ongoing suffering of some 500,000 people held in orphanages or children's homes between 1930 and 1970. 'Lost childhoods'
'Significant moment' "We are sorry," Mr Rudd told a gathering of 1,000 of the victims at Parliament House.
"Sorry for the tragedy - the absolute tragedy - of childhoods lost."
"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."
HISTORY OF UK CHILD MIGRANTS UK the only country with a sustained history of child migration - over four centuriesIn 1618, 100 sent from London to Richmond, VirginiaIn total 130,000 sent from the UK to Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) and AustraliaPost-war, 7,000 shipped to Australia and 1,300 to New Zealand, Rhodesia and Canada Source: Child Migrants Trust Ordeal of Australia's child migrants Send us your comments
Mr Rudd said the government would work to ensure that such a tragedy would "never happen again".
The prime minister's comments were frequently met with applause from the gathering, many of whom were moved to tears.
Under the Child Migrants Programme - which ended just 40 years ago - the UK sent poor children to a "better life" in Australia, Canada and elsewhere.Under the Child Migrants Programme - which ended just 40 years ago - the UK sent poor children to a "better life" in Australia, Canada and elsewhere.
Sandra Anker was sent out to Australia when she was six years old
As they were compulsorily shipped out of Britain, many of the children were told - wrongly - their parents were dead.As they were compulsorily shipped out of Britain, many of the children were told - wrongly - their parents were dead.
Many parents did not know their children, aged as young as three, had been sent to Australia.Many parents did not know their children, aged as young as three, had been sent to Australia.
Care agencies worked with the government to send disadvantaged children to a rosy future and supply what was deemed "good white stock" to a former colony.Care agencies worked with the government to send disadvantaged children to a rosy future and supply what was deemed "good white stock" to a former colony.
HISTORY OF UK CHILD MIGRANTS UK the only country with a sustained history of child migration - over four centuriesIn 1618, 100 sent from London to Richmond, VirginiaIn total 130,000 sent from the UK to Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) and AustraliaPost-war, 7,000 shipped to Australia and 1,300 to New Zealand, Rhodesia and Canada Source: Child Migrants Trust Ordeal of Australia's child migrants Send us your comments
In many cases they were educated only for farm work, and suffered cruelty and hardship including physical, psychological and sexual abuse.In many cases they were educated only for farm work, and suffered cruelty and hardship including physical, psychological and sexual abuse.
The founder of the Child Migrants Trust, Margaret Humphreys, has travelled from the UK to Canberra for Mr Rudd's apology.The founder of the Child Migrants Trust, Margaret Humphreys, has travelled from the UK to Canberra for Mr Rudd's apology.
She said: "The trust has campaigned for over 20 years for this kind and degree of recognition. For child migrants, of course, it has been all their lives and for their families.She said: "The trust has campaigned for over 20 years for this kind and degree of recognition. For child migrants, of course, it has been all their lives and for their families.
"This is a moment - a significant moment - in the history of child migration. The recognition is vital if people are to recover.""This is a moment - a significant moment - in the history of child migration. The recognition is vital if people are to recover."