IN Australia, former child migrants gathered at the country's Parliament this weekend to hear Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologise for their treatment.

In Britain, Gordon Brown said he would say sorry for the policies, which saw thousands of children deported to Australia without the knowledge or permission of their parents until 1967.

But in Notts, the county council – which played a key role in exposing the scandal – is at the centre of controversy for removing an information panel documenting the migrants' treatment and struggles.

Harold Haig, of the International Association of Former Child Migrants, said: " To put a memorial up to child migrants and take it down two years later – What is going on with the Conservatives?"

Mr Haig's dismay is explained by the part Notts County Council has played on behalf of child migrants.

Margaret Humphreys, a Notts social worker, discovered the shocking truth of child migration after she was contacted by a former migrant trying to trace her family in the 1980s.

She set up the Child Migrants' Trust, which has reunited hundreds of families and has campaigned for recognition of the injustice done to the children.

The county council has provided £850,000 to the trust in the past 15 years.

Former migrants are aghast at the decision to take down the memorial board.

John Hennessey, a former child migrant who attended the unveiling of the board in 2007, said: "I am absolutely appalled. I have said all over the world that the Notts County Council are the conscience of Great Britain concerning child migration."

The board was put up under a Labour administration but taken down by the new Conservative administration in September.

The county council pointed out that a tree has been planted in the garden outside County Hall along with a plaque dedicated to the Trust.

The Conservative councillor responsible has said the board was not sufficiently "positive".

In a written answer to a question from the Labour group, Coun John Cottee, portfolio holder for culture, said: "The new administration is keen that the Embankment and the general environment of County Hall are used to communicate positive messages about our pride in this county and country.

"It was felt that the heading, 'Britain's Shame' on the panel, while carrying an important message... was somewhat out of context with the positive theme."

The Conservatives at County Hall hope to use the board to display information about the history the building itself, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year.

A ceremony will be held on Friday to celebrate that anniversary, but Labour leader Councillor Alan Rhodes said he would not attend because of "the way they have treated child migrants".