[Greens-Media] Media Release- Senate acknowledges fifth anniversary of the National Apology to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants

[Redman, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

Media Release

18 November 2014

Senate acknowledges fifth anniversary of the National Apology to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants
 
The Australian Greens have welcomed cross-party support for a motion acknowledging the fifth anniversary of the National Apology to Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants.

The motion was jointly moved by Senator Rachel Siewert and Senator Claire Moore.
 
"The apology to more than 500,000 Forgotten Australians and former child migrants in 2009 remains a significant milestone in our history, as the Commonwealth acknowledged and apologised for the pain and suffering of Australians while in institutional care," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on family and community services said today.
 
"The apology was an important step in the healing process for those who experienced distress, neglect, abuse and assault, whilst in care and this motion reaffirms the Parliament's commitment to supporting those people and families who continue to be affected.
 
"The Community Affairs References Committee's Inquiry Lost innocents and forgotten Australians revisited made 16 recommendations to ensure concrete steps of redress and support were taken along with the Apology itself.

"The Senate has called for Australia's governments and former providers to work towards the implementation of the remaining recommendations, including the sensitive issues of redress, identity documentation and the need for responsive support for health and housing.

"Forgotten Australians and former child migrants continue to suffer as a result of the abuse and neglect they received whilst in care, it is essential that support services are provided and the redress is provided.

 "The cross-party support for this motion is a strong show of commitment from the Parliament to ensure we continue to build on the Apology, and I encourage all levels of government and former providers to redouble efforts to implement the remaining recommendations," Senator Siewert concluded.
 
  
 
*507 Senators Siewert and Moore:  To move- 

That the Senate-

(a) acknowledges:
       (i) the 5th anniversary of the National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants on 16 December 2014,
       (ii) that over 500 000 Australians experienced care in an orphanage, or other form of out-of-home care during the past century and many of these experienced distress, neglect, abuse and assault, and
       (iii) that the child migration scheme during the 20th Century is now universally recognised as having been fundamentally flawed with tragic consequences;

(b) notes:
       (i) the 16 recommendations of the Community Affairs References Committee's report, Lost innocents and forgotten Australians revisited: Report on the progress with the implementation of the recommendations of the lost innocents and forgotten Australians reports (the report), and
       (ii) the current Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse but that there are a range of issues identified by the Senate inquiries that are beyond the issues covered by Commission; and

(c) calls on leadership from governments and former providers to work towards the implementation of the remaining recommendations of the report, including the sensitive issues of redress, identity documentation and the need for responsive support for health and housing.