Thalidomide

Amid rapidly declining health, thalidomide survivors are still waiting for a national apology after a drug that caused catastrophic birth deformities in ...

Ms McManus said there are many "grey areas" in the package that required a lot of paperwork and was falling "very, very short of what was recommended by senators". "This resulted in a decision to delay the national apology, in consultation with thalidomide survivors who expressed a desire to be able to attend the national apology in person," it said. "The design has elements to help convey the significance, impact and history of the thalidomide tragedy in Australia," the department said. "[The department] will continue to engage with the Prime Minister and Cabinet and thalidomide survivors regarding the arrangements and timing for an apology in 2023," the department said. Ms McManus said in 2017 a then health minister told her survivors and their loved ones would never receive an apology "because the government did not feel that they had anything to apologise for". "It has just been detrimental to the wellbeing of our minds and our hearts," she said.