PM makes historic apology to 'Forgotten Australians'

Updated November 16, 2009 21:31:42

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has issued an historic apology to around half a million people known as the "Forgotten Australians". These are children who grew up in government-run institutions and foster care from the 1920s until 1970. Most were orphans or disadvantaged Australians, but around 7,000 were British children sent here under the so-called Child Migrants Program, a British policy to send what was seen as "good white stock" to former colonies. Many received little education, and were often physically or sexually abused.

Survivors, both those from Australia and those sent under the Child Migrants Program, have been pushing for a government apology since it was formally recommended by a Senate committee in 2004. Today, they got what they wanted.

Presenter: Corinne Podger
Speaker: Margaret Humphreys, director, Child Migrants Trust