From 26m agoKey events26m agoPrime minister delivers national apology to Australians impacted by thalidomide apology1h agoPlibersek reaches deal with Pocock on Murray-Darling2h agoVictoria parliament reaches gender parity3h agoAustralian government signals support for extension of Gaza truce3h agoClimate crisis the biggest concern for Australian teenagers, survey shows4h agoATO concedes letters about on-hold debts caused ‘unnecessary distress’ and halts campaign4h agoGood morning4h agoTelstra fined over tripled-zero failure4h agoBusiness fury at ‘unfair ’ IR bill changes5h agoWelcomeFilters BETAKey events (10)Anthony Albanese (13)Peter Dutton (10)Australia (10)Clare O’Neil (9)Canberra (6)4m ago18.56 EST
Peter Dutton:
The national apology is not made today because we can fix the failures of the past, we cannot.
This national apology is not made to suggest that we grasp the extent of the hardship and the heartache endured by Australians impacted by Thalidomide.
We never will.
This national apology is not made because we believe it will dull the torment or make the daily lives of any easier.
It would be naive to think it could. But we make this national apology as an expression of a historical dereliction of duty, an affirmation of a recognition of responsibility.
As a proclamation of a profound sense of regret. With this sorry, we acknowledge national shortcomings.
With this sorry, we take the important step in strengthening the soul of our democracy through our reference for the truth.
6m ago18.54 EST
Peter Dutton:
There is a further tragedy lived by families, parents and especially mothers – one mother said, and I quote, “In my shock state in hospital, I was not helped by some of the staff’s comments and suggestions such as put him in an institution and forget about him.” Another survivor stated, “Mum lives with so much guilt for take that one tablet, the guilt has eaten her away. She will have that guilt to the last breath she takes”.
But perhaps the totality of the tragedy on all those impacted by this disruptive – destructive drug is summed up by these profound words of a survivor: The question of how much Thalidomide affected my life is simple – it affects me completely. Every single step of my journey has been governed, decided upon, influenced or impeded because of Thalidomide. I can’t escape it as it lives with me every day.
7m ago18.53 EST
Peter Dutton:
I want to quote some of the excerpts from these firsthand accounts to illuminate the many tragic layers.
There is the tragedy of the physical ramifications of the drug and one survivor wrote: ‘Under the advice of her doctor, my mother took Thalidomide and later gave birth to me. I had undeveloped arms, only two fingers on each and an extra toe. There are other underlying conditions that weren’t obvious at the time, heart problems, enlargement of part of my oesophagus, no gall bladder’. Another said: ‘Thalidomide has robbed me of many opportunities to…
2023-11-28 18:45:14
Link from www.theguardian.com
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