Bringing-Them-Home-Report-Web

14 Making ReparationThe Government has to explain why it happened. What was the intention? I have toknow why I was taken. I have to know why I was given the life I was given and why I’mscarred today. Why was my Mum meant to suffer? Why was I made to suffer with noAboriginality and no identity, no culture? Why did they think that the life they gave mewas better than the one my Mum would give me?And an apology is important because I’ve never been apologised to. My mother’s neverbeen apologised to, not once, and I would like to be apologised to.Thirdly, I’ve been a victim and I’ve suffered and I’ll suffer until the day I die for whatI’ve never had and what I can never have. I just have to get on with my life butcompensation would help. It doesn’t take the pain away. It doesn’t take the sufferingaway. It doesn’t take the memories away. It doesn’t bring my mother back. But it hasto be recognised.And I shouldn’t forget counselling. I’ve had to counsel myself all my life from a veryyoung age. And in the homes I never showed my tears … I’ve been told that I need totalk about my childhood. I need to be counselled for me to get back on with my life.Confidential evidence 139, Victoria: woman removed at 12 months in 1967.FindingsDenial of common law rightsThe Inquiry has found that the removal of Indigenous children by compulsion,duress or undue influence was usually authorised by law, but that those laws violatedfundamental common law rights which Indigenous Australians should have enjoyedequally with all other Australians. As subjects of the British Crown, Indigenouspeople should have been accorded these common law liberties and protections asfundamental constitutional rights.Breach of human rightsThe Inquiry has further found that from about 1950 the continuation of separate lawsfor Indigenous children breached the international prohibition of racial discrimination.Also racially discriminatory were practices which disadvantaged Indigenous familiesbecause the standards imposed were standards which they could not meet eitherbecause of their particular cultural values or because of imposed poverty anddependence.Finally, from 1946 laws and practices which, with the purpose of eliminatingIndigenous cultures, promoted the removal of Indigenous children for rearing in non-Indigenous institutions and households were in breach of the international prohibitionof genocide. From this period many Indigenous Australians were victims of grossviolations of human rights.Other victimisationThe Inquiry has found that many individuals were victims of civil and/or criminalwrongdoing. These wrongs were perpetrated by ‘carers’ and typically ignored bygovernment-appointed guardians. They compounded the initial harm and damage