The apology to members of the Stolen Generations delivered by Prime Minister Rudd on 13th February 2008, was a watershed moment in Australian history. So long denied, its delivery removed a significant roadblock to justice and reconciliation in this country.

One year on, this watershed moment is worth celebrating. Perhaps more importantly, it's also worth reflecting on what the apology means for the next stages of the difficult road ahead.

The most troubling aspect of the apology was the fact that Mr Rudd rejected the need for compensation to the Stolen Generations and instead proposed that closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage was an appropriate substitute.

In doing so Mr Rudd rejected a central recommendation of the Bringing Them Home report to provide a comprehensive process of reparations for making amends for the wrong and injury caused by the policies of removal. The concept of reparations is internationally recognised, comprising five essential and complementary elements: acknowledgment and apology; guarantee against repetition; restitution; rehabilitation; and monetary compensation.

The Rudd Government's policy on closing the gap, on the other hand, does not do this. Instead it essentially delivers basic citizenship rights long denied to Indigenous people.

It therefore remains a concern that the prime minister continues to frame his government's response to the Stolen Generations in terms of its closing the gap commitments. For example in a speech on Sorry Day, 26th May 2008, Mr Rudd reflected on “the journey of healing among us all and where we intend to go to in bringing that journey towards a proper conclusion - which is closing the gap between indigenous and non indigenous Australians”.

Simply reiterating this false connection risks replacing the former roadblock of the Howard Government's refusal to offer an apology with a new, equally insurmountable one – the Rudd Government's refusal to provide a comprehensive reparations process. It cannot change the fact that for those who the apology and the journey of healing matter most – Stolen Generations survivors – the Rudd Government's conception of 'closing the gap' does not define their journey.

Their journey remains defined in the recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report, very few of which have been fully implemented.

This is why ANTaR launched its Sorry is the First Step campaign following the national apology to urge the Rudd Government to develop the comprehensive response to Bringing Them Home it promised in Opposition.

Ironically, if the government was to honestly take on board what is really required to close the gap it would see that the plight of the Stolen Generations exemplifies many of the key elements – the central importance of cultural identity and family; the need for acknowledgment, respect and justice as part of a healing process; and the need for the resources and means to take control of their lives and to sustainably improve their physical, emotional, social, cultural and economic well-being.

If we cannot get this right for the Stolen Generations, what is the likelihood that we can ever as a nation really close the gap?