Australia's Rudd says sorry to orphans, child migrants

By James Grubel

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologized Monday for years of abuse and pain suffered by thousands of orphans and children sent to Australia from Britain, often without the knowledge of their parents.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is also set to apologies to around 7,000 children from state institutions who were shipped to Australia between 1930 and 1970 under the old Child Migrants Program.

Rudd told an audience of about 900 former orphans, known as the Forgotten Australians, that the abandoned policy was a shameful and ugly period in history which led to suffering, emotional damage and an absence of love and 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," Rudd said in a speech at parliament.

"We look back with shame at how those with power were allowed to abuse those who had none."

Many poor children were sent to Commonwealth countries, mainly Australia and Canada, with promises of a better life. But according to the charity the Child Migrants Trust, many of those sent to Australia ended up being abused, dumped in institutions or used as laborers on farms against their wishes.

Rudd's apology, broadcast live on national television, covered around 500,000 people who had campaigned for such a speech for decades.