MOTIONS › National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants
Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (11:54): I too seek leave to make a short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute. Senator SIEWERT: This is a very important motion for survivor former child migrants and forgotten Australians. The national apology was a huge step forward on the journey towards healing for former child migrants and forgotten Australians. For too many years they really were forgotten. I also want to congratulate them for the hard work that they've put in to get the issues recognised. There were three Senate inquiries, for example, before we got to the apology, and that was over years under a number of governments. This is a very important day. It is important that we continue to adequately fund services and supports for forgotten Australians and former child migrants, that we never, ever forget that this happened and that we never let it happen again. It would be remiss of me if I didn't mention the fact that we need to make sure that we get redress right. Question agreed to.