AN ABORIGINAL woman says she feels as though she has been "stolen all over again" after her story of separation from her father 50 years ago was used by the Opposition Leader, Brendan Nelson, in his apology speech.
Faye Lynam, from Shepparton in northern Victoria, has demanded a public apology from Dr Nelson, who she says took her story out of context by implying her father gave her to welfare authorities willingly.
She sobbed yesterday as she asked why he did not gain her permission to use her quotes in his "toxic" speech on Wednesday, which sandwiched her story between comments defending removal policies and rejecting calls for compensation.
"My dad was not happy that I was taken," Mrs Lynam said.
"They cheated us, they cheated me of my life with him and now I feel like I'm stolen all over again. I am ashamed that he [Nelson] has done this to me, I'm so ashamed."
Dr Nelson rang Mrs Lynam, 57, on Thursday night to apologise after learning of her distress at his speech, during which thousands of people across the country turned their backs in protest and which was snubbed by several of his own party members, including the frontbencher Peter Dutton, the finance spokesman, who absented himself from the historic parliamentary sitting.
Mr Dutton has not commented on his reasons for leaving the chamber during the apology.
Dr Nelson's spokesman said the record from which Dr Nelson quoted - an oral history kept in the National Library of Australia - was publicly available.
"Brendan rang Faye last night and said to her if there was anything in the speech that she felt was offensive or hurtful, he apologised for that," he said.
But Mrs Lynam said she wanted a public apology, since the original speech was telecast widely.
The education worker was in Canberra on Wednesday to celebrate the Prime Minister's apology. However, she did not learn how her quotes had been used until she returned home on Thursday, and said most of her friends and family did not even know she had been removed before Dr Nelson told her story.
"When I went for a so-called better life, I was sexually assaulted, used as a little slave," said Mrs Lynam, who returned to her father at 16 after having lived in several foster homes.
"I was on such a high up there [in Canberra], we got a sorry, now we can start moving forward. And then being hit by this, it's like ripping my heart out all over again."
In his speech, Dr Nelson led into Mrs Lynam's story by saying: "No one should bring a sense of moral superiority to this debate in seeking to diminish the view that good was being sought to be done."
He then quoted from her oral history, including the passage: "Personally I don't want people to say, 'I'm sorry, Faye' - I just want them to understand. It was very hurtful to leave Dad … Dad said to me, 'It's hard for daddy and the authorities won't let you stay with me in a tent on the riverbank. You're a little girl and you need someone to look after you.' I remember him telling us that, and I cried."
He went on to say there should not be a compensation fund.
Meanwhile, the leader of Stolen Generations Victoria, Lyn Austin, said up to 40 Victorian people removed from their families are planning to seek compensation through the courts.
Her cousin Neville Austin, 44, has briefed a leading QC, Jack Rush, to sue the Victorian Government in what is expected to be the first stolen generations claim in the state.
The case is yet to be filed.