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Rudd vows formal apology

26 November 2007 - Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd says his government will make a formal apology to indigenous Australians early in its first term.

"It will be early in the parliamentary term," Mr Rudd told reporters in Brisbane.

"We will frame it in a consultative fashion with communities and that may take some time."

Mr Rudd's comments come after incoming deputy prime minister Julia Gillard this morning suggested Labor would soon say "sorry" to the indigenous people of Australia.

"It's certainly Labor policy, obviously we haven't made an announcement about timing and that's a matter for Kevin to deal with," she told ABC radio today.

"It's certainly long-standing Labor policy and I absolutely support it.

"And I also absolutely support us taking the practical measures that would make a difference to the huge life expectancy gap and the lack of opportunity that so many indigenous Australians face in their lives."

Mr Rudd also said today he has received advice on when Australia could ratified the Kyoto protocol.

Mr Rudd is to represent Australia at a UN climate change conference in Bali next week.

Visiting a school on Brisbane's northern bayside today, Mr Rudd said he had received but not read advice on when he could ratify the protocol.

"We have just received that advice as I was driving out here and I'm yet to read it," Mr Rudd said.

"I will be reading it this afternoon."

Source: The Age

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