Anthony Albanese delivers national apology for ‘dark chapter’ in Aussie history

The survivors and families of Australia’s thalidomide tragedy have received a formal apology from Anthony Albanese on behalf of the federal government.

Australian thalidomide survivors and their families have received a formal apology for the government’s role in the tragedy.

The morning sickness drug, once branded a “wonder treatment” for pregnant women, caused birth defects in thousands of babies worldwide.

It was widely distributed in Australia in the 1960s but was not tested on pregnant women before approval. The crisis led to the formation of the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

It was later found to cause malformation of limbs, facial features and internal organs in unborn children.

An estimated 10,000 babies were born around the world with such defects. There are 146 registered survivors in Australia, however the exact number of those affected is unknown.

Mr Albanese apologised to survivors for the tragedy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed survivors and their families on Wednesday morning, delivering an unreserved apology on behalf of Australia, but acknowledged saying sorry “does not balance the years of inaction of inadequate support”.

“You have been survivors from the day you were born. More than that, you have been advocates, organisers, champions, and warriors,” he told the House of Representatives.

“Time and time again, you have summoned remarkable resolve. You have shown an extraordinary strength of character. Yet for so long, parliaments and governments have not proved equal to this or worthy of it.

“Too often, we have let you down.”

Mr Albanese confirmed the Australian Thalidomide Survivor Support Program would be reopened to ensure anyone who may have missed the previous opportunity to apply does not miss out.

The program is a lifetime support package, which includes a one-off lump sum payment in recognition of pain and suffering, as well as ongoing annual payments.

Mr Albanese said the government would act to ensure the support was indexed to inflation as called for by survivors.

Survivors and family members in the public gallery as the national apology was given. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Survivors and family members in the public gallery as the national apology to Thalidomide survivors is given in the House of Representatives. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

For Australia’s oldest survivor, musician and record producer Brett Nielsen, he said it would take some time to process the events of the apology but it was “great” the government was taking it “a little bit more seriously”.

“I’m sorry my parents weren’t here to witness it,” he said.

He credited the apology to the “fabulous” and “persistent” work of Lisa McManus, who has led the Thalidomide Group Australia group, which has lobbied for an apology and better support.

But Mr Nielsen said he hoped the government would also open up to support to Australian survivors who weren’t currently residing in Australia.

“One of our members is living in America and can’t get access to anything, even though he’s an Australian citizen. It’s a bit light on … there are enough restrictions already,” he said.

Thalidomide was distributed for sale in Australia between August 1960 and November 1961. Australia declared thalidomide a prohibited import in August 1962.

When it was linked to birth defects, neither state nor the federal governments took swift enough action to ban its importation or sale, a 2019 senate inquiry found.

About 20 per cent of survivors may not have been affected if the Australian government had acted faster, the report estimated.

Unlike in other countries, no efforts were made to recall and destroy the product that was in doctors’ clinics or pharmacies.

“The fact that even after the grave dangers of this drug were known, importing thalidomide was not prohibited. Selling it was not banned. Products and samples in surgeries and shops were not comprehensively recalled or entirely destroyed,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Dutton said the apology was ‘more than overdue’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Saying ‘sorry’ does not excuse this or erase it.”

The inquiry found the government had a moral obligation to survivors. The formal apology was a recommendation of the 2019 inquiry, alongside the creation of a National Site of Recognition.

Mr Albanese said the apology “takes in one of the darkest chapters in Australia’s medical history.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the apology was “more than overdue”.

Survivors and family members will attend the unveiling of the site on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin on Thursday.

The location and design of the National Site of Recognition were chosen in collaboration with Australian thalidomide survivors.