On 13 February 2008, Kevin Rudd apologised to the Stolen Generations on behalf of the Parliament. Here are some facts surrounding the apology, as well as Kevin Rudd's speech.
Mr RUDD (Griffith—Prime Minister)
(9.00 a.m.)—I move:
That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations—this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.
Does ANTaR consider that an apology should be followed through with compensation?
ANTaR believes that an apology should be the beginning of a process of reparation. However the government should do what it promised in opposition: comprehensively respond to the recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report, a number of which deal with compensation.
Wouldn't money be best directed towards meeting the government's commitment to the deadlines for Closing the Gap?
ANTaR is a strong supporter (and a founder) of the Close the Gap campaign. We have publicly congratulated the Rudd government on their commitment to closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. However, the government's commitment in this area shouldn't absolve them from other areas of indigenous policy.
Close the Gap is about closing 17-year life expectancy gap, whereas compensation for the stolen generations (and the Bringing Them Home report) is about a specific response to people who were damaged by the practice of child removal. The two should not be confused.
Regardless of compensation, what will an apology do in terms of furthering the cause of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians?
The 13th of February (the day the government says Sorry) will be a great day of healing. It will send a message to Indigenous Australians that the government, on behalf of the nation, understands the suffering that was caused and wants to make amends. It will have a similar effect on Indigenous Australians that a similar apology had when it was made to Vietnam veterans. So, regardless of compensation, an apology is very important.
Some Australians think the government shouldn't say sorry on their behalf. Why?
There are a number of misconceptions about the apology. The apology isn't on behalf of all Australians. The apology is from the government in relation to a specific action of government policy that damaged many people and went on right up until 1970. Many people have made a personal apology already by signing the Sorry books.
Will personal litigation be a follow-on effect from the apology, particularly as there isn't a central compensation fund?
The absence of a compensation fund will potentially lead to greater litigation, which will prolong the suffering and uncertainty of many elderly Aboriginal people. There are recongnised principles of making reparations used across the world, particularly the van Boven principles which are very sound and should be considered seriously. The van Boven principles includes the act of compensation, and is covered in the Bringing Them Home report. For more information on the van Boven principles, see United Nations Economic and Social Council and Appendix 8 of the Bringing them Home report.
Will an apology help deal with practical problems in Indigenous communities?
The apology is not an end in itself. The practical problems that Indigenous people face are very real and will not be overcome just by an apology. Many of the problems we're seeing are as a result of child removal. We need to tackle the injustices of the past, and an apology will help to tackle some of these problems, but it is not enough on its own.
More information
The latest from around the country about Bringing Them Home (and the national apology), on All Things Considered
Chris Graham, Editor of The National Indigenous Times says:
(on Crikey, reposted by Jenny Haines)
There's nothing like a little ‘sorry’ debate to get white Australia all red and puffy. Here’s a punter's guide to exploding 10 of the more virulent myths surrounding a national apology to members of the Stolen Generations:
GetUp says: This looks set to be a great moment in our nation's history but only if all MPs are on board. Send an email to your local MP and ensure that the apology comes from a united parliament on behalf of all Australia: email your MP!
"Our Indigenous colleagues have stressed two factors in the success of this new way forward. First, the supreme importance of cross party support when the PM takes to the Parliament floor. So, if your MP is Liberal, please urge him or her to push the party leadership to support the apology.
Second, the apology was always only meant to be the first step and must be acknowledged as such. So, if your MP is Labor, please support, commend, and thank them - but also remind them that this a starting point and that what is required now is the full and comprehensive response to the Bringing Them Home Report."
