Calls for apology to thalidomide survivors

AUSTRALIAN thalidomide survivors and their families deserve a formal apology and financial support from the government, a new report has recommended.

A Senate committee yesterday released its final report into support for survivors of the morning sickness drug that caused birth defects in thousands of babies worldwide.

“The committee considers that the Australian government has a responsibility to support Australia’s thalidomide survivors,” the report concluded. The inquiry heard evidence of thalidomide leaving some people with malformed limbs, progressively worsening health outcomes and severe pain.

In January, Canada doubled the size of the lump sum it offers survivors and increased the size of its assistance fund to $CAD1 million ($A1.05 million) a year.

But with the exception of tax relief, the Australian government has not provided financial assistance to thalidomide survivors, nor provided wheelchairs, modified cars, or implemented special programs to provide assistance.

“The committee considers that ongoing annual payments will need to be indexed, not just so that they keep pace with inflation, but to take into account thalidomide survivors’ increasing health needs,” the report said.

In November, 1961, when thalidomide was linked to birth defects, neither state governments nor the Australian government took swift action to ban its importation or sale.

Unlike other countries, no efforts were made to recall and destroy the product.

The inquiry found that had the government acted more quickly, about 20 per cent of Australia’s thalidomide survivors may not have been affected.