The inquiry found a 'litany of emotional, physical and sexual abuse, and often criminal physical and sexual assault'.

Last year Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised in parliament to Aborigines for misguided assimilation practices that took children from their families, to be raised up by Caucasians.

At that time, there was a demand that the Orphans of Empire also received an official apology.

The British Parliament has also inquired into the child migrants, declaring that the half-secret scheme was shot through with 'cruelty, lies and deceit'.

Alan Gill, author of the expose Orphans of Empire, has demanded compensation for those badly treated in orphanages.

He claimed that neither the sending country, Britain, nor the receiving countries, which included Australia, had shown compassion.

'You're having buck-passing all round, which is extremely demoralising for those who came out as child migrants,' Gill said.