The compensation legislation will provide $5 million to be distributed to Aborigines taken from their families under assimilation policies up to 1975.

The children of those taken but since deceased will also be entitled to compensation, to be distributed by an independent Stolen Generations Assessor.

Mr Harriss, who is of Aboriginal descent, said he was likely to support the bill but would first seek assurances that no claimants would be excluded because they were not recognised as indigenous by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre.

Aboriginality is a fraught issue in Tasmania, where some people of Aboriginal descent claim they are effectively denied their identity by the TAC, the body recognised by the Government as a peak indigenous group.

To be eligible for compensation, a person will have to be able to demonstrate Aboriginal ancestry and communal recognition by members of the Aboriginal community.

However, Mr Harriss's concern is likely to be overcome. Premier Paul Lennon has promised the assessor will have discretion to approve payments for people who, because they were separated from the families and culture, may struggle to gain community recognition.

Mr Wilkinson said he was also likely to support the legislation when it came before the Legislative Council.

Mr Lennon moved yesterday to allay Mr Wilkinson's concern that white foster parents and welfare workers could be vilified as part of the compensation process.

" We are not, through this bill, making any adverse comment on the many foster parents who gave so much of their lives to the wellbeing of children in the child protection system," Mr Lennon told the House of Assembly, after the bill was introduced yesterday.

"They were not responsible for the values and policies of the day or the decisions taken by past governments to take Aboriginal children into care."

The Government needs the support of three of the 10 independent MLCs to have the legislation passed.

Yesterday, after two members of the stolen generations made a historic address on the floor of the lower house, the Liberal Opposition announced it had put aside what some described as "robust debate" within its ranks to support the legislation.

Stolen generation members Eddie Thomas and Annette Peardon told an emotional sitting of parliament of how they were taken from their families when young children. Ms Peardon urged other state leaders and Prime Minister John Howard to "follow the footsteps of the Tasmanian Government".