Cynically, I would have to say very little.
Government’s involvement in giving public apologies is a PR exercise to gain votes or point score over its Opposition.
Departments funded to administer, monitor or develop policy and research, quickly gobbled up the funding through department expansion with an increase of public servants, leaving very little left for the victim’s programmes or for their benefit.
Departments frequently judging success by size or how large a budget it attracts; not by the quality of its programmes, research, and administration or monitoring. I know because I came from private enterprise to work in the Public service and solutions were to direct the officer to cease investigation. We need to set priorities. Return to a Public Service that is not politically controlled but there to serve each government. I do not deny that department require adequate staffing levels at the delivery levels.
Courts and government take the line to restrict compensation levels because it might bankrupt the organisations involved.
Then it is argued that e.g. Whether it is brutality or sexual abuse should be compensated at different levels. If sexually abused it might attract 3 or 4 thousand dollars more.
I wish to stress this point, a victim committing suicide from brutality, mental, emotion is just a dead as those driven to it by sexual abuse.
Abuse is abuse, whether sexual, physical, mental or emotional and it scars the victims for life, even driving some commit to suicide.
The Child Protection laws have not changed to provide the protection of children that we need.
Authority needs to listen to the pleas of the children and give more weight to what they say.
Government refuse to develop sound policy because of costs to protect the vulnerable. It would rather fund the military to fight wars overseas than spend on its citizens.
Abuse does not separate race, colour, creed, or sex and we should stop looking at it in that way but look at the issues.
The people preparing these policy and legal decisions have yet to walk the mile of the victims.

" Who will take responsibility for the more than 2 million Australian adults surviving child abuse? "

"The Forgotten Australians sit alongside another group of Australians which has long been forgotten - the more than 2 million adult survivors of childhood abuse or neglect. Their plight and needs have perennially been ignored by the Australian community and successive governments. For this group there has been no apology and no redress, and no funds or provisions have been established."

One tends to get heartly sick of various pressure Groups , who have "apology " as their middle name and either "funds or provisions" as their surname.!

The answer that the writer obviously wants is ....

THE TAXPAYER.

I await the day that a pressure group can come up with something more original than "Apology" or "Gimme Money"..

It can make an otherwise already tragic situation even worse, by creating an indifferent public ,many of whom switch off when the above banal words are uttered.

So whilst those 2,000,000 Australians ( including myself briefly ) have my sympathy, maybe a different approach is required ?

I personally got on with my life and made sure that I would never commit such an act.

Prosecution of the bast/rds that perportrated these abuses then,now and in the future at all levels
I have fought for over 12 years to try to stop that which I suffered being done to my son to no avail
It has been one lie after another in Court after Court all to hurt the father because I just wouldn't lay down and die
The "apology" will probably bring the same tears that were shed for the Indigenous
So this is what I wrote after 12 months of inaction of repair
Yes, a tear was shed
But easy wiped away
Where are those tears that were shed
Are they here today
Those tears are gone
And are of the past
Shed in falsehood they could never last
While a child yearns for his family true
Those tears were shed for nothing new

Thanks all
from Dave

I Have To Agree With You , DWG,

Its About time The Goverment And The States And Territories Stop The Cover Up Of All Those Who Abused Us When We Were Children ,

We Know Mr Rudd Is Giving An Apology To The Forgotten Australians On The 16th November 2009, For The Abuse We Had Suffered In These Institutions And Homes, And Orphanages And Many Many Many Other , Institutions In Australia , ,

But It Would Be Execeptable In This apology That Those Institutions Who Destroyed The Victims Records And Evidence In Proving Their Truth Of What Had Happen To Them When They Were A Child Under Their Care Be Held Accontable For The Crimes That We As Children Had Suffered, By Those Who had Control Of Us.

Though Being The Goverment They Will Still Use Ever Loop Hole To Get Around This Like They Still Do Today , I Know Of Your Hurt As You Know Of Mine , And I Beleave Their Is Just More To An Apology Than Sorry Action Has To Be Taken By The Goverment For Those Who Covered Up About Us Victims ,And Why They Destroyed our Evidence Of Our Truth, Of Which We Are Still Denide Justice

From A real Forgotten Australian

HuffnPuff

Why are there only 2 million survivors of child abuse in Australia? I would have thought there were closer to 20 million.

Exactly who gets to define child abuse? Are only those who are struggling with life liable for compensation and help or should those who have gone on to live full and productive lives also benefit? They are all child abuse victims. How do we define struggling? What is the difference between the normal struggles of life and those endured by child abuse victims? How do we tell whether a person’s struggles are due to child abuse or just poor life choices? Exactly where does government responsibility begin and end? How do we claim compensation from long dead parents who abused us?

There would be a bottomless pit of claimants to financial support but there is not a bottomless pit of taxpayer’s money. Somewhere along the line someone is going to have to call a halt to this demand for money and resources.

Asking for something which cannot be provided is a futile exercise. People who have suffered as children eventually have to accept that no amount of recompense can undo what has been done. That does not mean that those people are doomed to go on suffering. Nobody can move on until they accept things as they are now. If we are waiting for someone else to give us the green light then we are still essentially victims because we do not need those things to move forward and be completely healed. Often the pursuit of apologies and financial support is just an excuse to avoid looking more deeply at life as it is now and accepting that more change is needed within us that is dependent on no one else but ourselves.

Apologies don’t change anyone except the person who apologises. Life should go on regardless. If the government should apologise and they don’t it is their problem and not mine

Huffnpuff
Thanks bloke and I hope that things are going okay with you and family

Phanto
"Exactly who gets to define child abuse? Are only those who are struggling with life liable for compensation and help or should those who have gone on to live full and productive lives also benefit? They are all child abuse victims. How do we define struggling? What is the difference between the normal struggles of life and those endured by child abuse victims? How do we tell whether a person’s struggles are due to child abuse or just poor life choices? Exactly where does government responsibility begin and end? How do we claim compensation from long dead parents who abused us?"

Yes, Many have gone on to productive lives, but when what happened to those stolen and abused went wayward then tried to recognise that which happened as a child caused most of that waywardness and they have tried to repair thier damaged lives and as they are doing it along come the same departments and do the same bl//dy things to thier own innocent child then where do you draw the line? Who then should be held responsible?What should be the compensation and I am not talking just monetary I am talking JUST compensation? Shouldn't someone begin to be prosecuted?
Or does someone that commits an act of theft or "murder"(taking of lifes innocence)from you or anyone else just say sorry and go along with thier life without any recall on that person or people that commit these crimes? If that is the case then those that commit crimes should just say sorry, and no more need for courts lawyers cops etc

Thanks for your time
From Dave

Sadly the actions of government continue to perpetrate abuse. We have a little girl in our care whom the Dept of Communities (Child Safety)acknowledge should be returned to her mother due to a "mistake" in her being removed - i.e. the child is not, nor was ever, at risk. However, due to staff shortages, there is no one to complete the investigation paperwork so the little girl and her family remain seperated for at least the next four weeks (& quite possibly longer.)

Removing children from situations of abuse and neglect is critical to their chances of recovery. Keeping children apart from their families due to "staffing issues" exacerbates trauma for both child and family.

Rather than protecting this child the Qld State Govt department continues to inflict undue suffering and trauma. Sometimes child protection agencies do little to protect the children they are charged with protecting, and for completely avoidable reasons, while other children languish in situations of vile abuse and neglect for extraordinary lengths of time before any action is taken.

I can't see that this, as with many other issues, has anything to do with government. It's a criminal action. Too often people sacrifice personal responsibility and call on the government to fix everything up.

Prosecute the offenders to the maximum extent of the law.

What sort of help are we talking about that will restore shattered lives.
Do you need fisecal help, or do you need to help yourself.
Surely we are not talking about monetary help.
I couldn't see any amount of monetary help being an aid for anything.
I think the best you could do is to make sure this sort of thing does not happen to anyone else. If you have the experience of abuse you should be a good guide as to preventing this from happening again.

The point so many are missing is what happened to children up until the 1990/s was illegal and condoned by the government.
Institutions were only closed in the late 80' and 90's so the problem could be moved along. There was no screening of foster parents and the abuse continued.
The media are reporting the Forgotten Australians only covers up to the 70's. This is not correct and is being fostered by those who want the issue to just "go away". The media once again have got it wrong and need to do their job with dillegence and report factually.
We cannot access our records without jumping through many hoops and red tape. and when we do there are many gaps and untruths.Everyone has the right for information about their past, especially medical records and school records, can you imagine growing up and not having the information of who you are and why this has happened to you and your family. This must be rectified. Many records have been deliberatley destroyed to protect the perpetrators.
The apology from the Federal Government on the 16th November will assist many with the healing, and acknowledge what happened should not have been allowed to happen, they will acknowledge our truth and we will be believed, however, the apology needs to be addressed to the families of us Forgotten Australians as well, they are the ones who have suffered through the lack of care and education we suffered as children. If this is not addressed the aftermath of past governments policies will continue on for generations to come.
This must stop it can never be allowed to happen again, our government must never have the ability to sweep past wrongs under the carpet again, they must acknowledge their past mistakes and correct the history of this country.

Sooner or later one can only hope the media and others get it right, I hope and pray tomorrow our Prime Minister has done his homework regarding dates we were incarcerated an from when the the present time.

Not my words but those of the Senate Committees findings.

"1.6 The Committee received 440 public submissions and 174 confidential submissions. A list of individual and organisations who made a public submission or provided other information that was authorised for publication by the Committee is at Appendix 1. The extensive nature of this inquiry can be recognised from the submissions received by the Committee.

Submissions were received from care leavers (Forgotten Australians) who had been in government and non-government institutions or foster homes across all States in Australia and spanning the period from the 1920s to the 1990s.

Appendix 6 provides a summary listing from submissions of all the institutions the care leavers (Forgotten Australians) who provided those submissions had been placed in. The span of years they were in those homes as described in submissions is summarised in Appendix7"

I thought I would break this paragraph up so all are able to see the actual time period quoted in the report.

Sunday the 16/11/2009 is our day the Child Migrants and the Forgotten Australians, be sure to be in fine voice we have waited an eternity for this; the doors are opening and hopefully we will be helped along the road to get our dignity back.

It was at the hands of Government incompetence they allowed us to be abused and neglected please don't let some convince you otherwise.

If protecting children, in every sense, is not one of a societies most important priorities then what does that say about said society? I am sure my child is not being abused, but that is not enough, I want him to be a part of a society that cares particularly for the most vulnerable and innocent.
I was angry and immesurably hurt that society did not protect me and my sisters, including Aboriginal foster sisters, and friends, too. The abuse was extreme (though I have heard, first-hand, far worse)yet no-one was prepared to listen. I have been on jury duty in a child sex abuse case only to find the same story (specifically age-ism) from that perspective. Rarely do we hear of the statistics of child abuse, except for what the "Children are Sacred" report regarding NT Aboriginal communities stated (differing greatly from ABS reports). Eg. 1 in 4 girls in Aust.(any colour), are sexually abused before they reach 16yrs, see ABS. Australian society is letting its children down, both by not protecting them now and by destroying thier future environmentally, socially and politically.
We need serious cultural level change, children deserve no less.

Cathy
Where does the Constitution give power to the Australian government to make laws on child abuse?
If you had to raise the money voluntarily to address these social concerns, that would be a perfectly acceptable alternative, wouldn't it? If not, then it's not about child abuse, it's about your desire to get money from people.
You have not given any reason for government to do anything.

Peter Hume
"Cathy
Where does the Constitution give power to the Australian government to make laws on child abuse?"
Peter,
The Constitution gives powers to the Federal Government to enact laws for the betterment of the Australian People.
The Constitution also states that The Federal Government is responsible for the Welfare of ALL of the People ALL of the time.
Now if you are born in any state or territory of this country and apply for a passport do you recieve a Qld,NSW,Vic,Tas,W.A,S.A,etc passport or do you apply and recieve an Australian Passport?
Do you or any on else recieve centrelink payments from State or Federal Government?
There are that many examples of the finality of the Federal Government over the State that it is ridiculous to try to list them all, eg Traviston Dam, Qld, just last week
Stop trying to pass the "buck" if there is a decrepency between State and Federal then the Federal shall take preference over the State.

Thanks
From Dave

Honeybunny,
"i.e. the child is not, nor was ever, at risk."

My son was removed on the allegation of Bashed and Starved(physical abuse)8/5/1997, taken for a complete Doctors examination 9/5/1997 Doctors report, "No evidence of physical or emotional abuse" my son stays in care, 17/5/1997 while my son is on access with his parents, the ones that made the allegation of(B&S) come to my yard and remove my son.
23/5/1997 Care application filed in wrong name,son stays in "care", then another care application filed the 5/6/1997 by a trainee D.O. and NZ'er not an indigenous worker, 10/6/1997 the parents solicitor dismissed, 30/6/1997 my son taken to Psychologist assessment without leave of the Court alleging emotional abuse,
15/7/1997 I have the criminal charge of "No Adequate Provision" dimissed, The solicitor that was dismissed by the parents turns up representing our son,16/7/1997 the Magistrate states there is no claim by the applicants that adequate provision is not being met for the child,etc etc
Year 2000 while recission application is going on access is reinstated and grows in time until a Dr and Professor of family and child matters is engaged by the Childrens Court to assess the long term placement of our son states that the child should be returned to the parents I have had only 15 minutes with my son 3/7/2005 and probably a dozen phone calls.

The Ombudsman,ICAC.Police Minister and also Commissioner,all Ministers and Directors-General of DoCS,The Attorney-General,
The DPP,at state level and the counterparts at Fedearal level have been contacted by both myself and my Parliamentary Members
All have stated there is nothing wrong,nothing they casn do,they will look into these matters, I don't even know where my son is the parents have separated etc etc

I would have liked to have commented on Cheryl,Desmond,Sheilaj,and Milgu's posts as well but have not the space but if anyone wishes to know more contact graysond49@yahoo.com

Quote"Any nation that does not care for and protect ALL of its children does not deserve the right to call itself a nation" Nelson Mandela
"I have a dream" Martin Luther-King

Thanks from
Dave

It is up to us to hold both the Federal and State Governments to their word and ensure this "never happens again" Present injustices need to be acted upon, the Forgotten Australian saga was not only until the 70s as has been perpertrated by the media, but extends way beyong to the present day.
The apology has opened many doors that will enable us to make them look and act.
Australia desperately needs a bill of rights amongst many other needs all at a high priority. A royal commission into the complete system of child protection past and present policies is a very high priority. We must learn from the past to move forward, these are words spoken by both leaders of Government, lets not let them leave them as just words.
The time to lobby is now, the hard work really begins, both sides of the government made statements they need to live up to and we need to ensure they do. The battle was won, the war continues. There are still 37 recommendations from the original 39 recomendations from the Senate Enquiry of 2004 that must be ratified and implemented.

Sheilaj
"This must stop it can never be allowed to happen again, our government must never have the ability to sweep past wrongs under the carpet again, they must acknowledge their past mistakes and correct the history of this country."

How is it going to stop? The legal Profession is part and parcel of the Problem.

"It is up to us to hold both the Federal and State Governments to their word and ensure this "never happens again" Present injustices need to be acted upon"

This is what I am trying to do, I can only operate on actual facts and the only documentary proof I have is the paperwork of my son's case. I have many stories from gaol, the street,people I have met over the years but only the paperwork of my son's case.
The crime of Kidnap holds no statute of limitations. Kidnap is the act of taking a child from his/her lawful parent or guardian by any act that is not prescribed to be lawful and the placement of any ransom or condition on his/her parent or guardian for his/her return.
That is what has happened with my son.
Even though DoCS workers Courts and etc have removed him this was not according to the laws or the Act of the time and not by lawful proceedures of the Courts, Hence KIDNAP.
All these may be part of government agencies or similar BUT they are not the government, hence they are all prosecutable only the government cannot be prosecuted but all that work for it are, hence any person that works for a government that proposed any law to cover this can be prosecuted for conspiracy as well.

What was those words once said give me the people I will return the world

Quote, "I HAVE A DREAM" Martin Luther-King

Thanks from Dave