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Letter to Dr. Neal Blewett A.C

Dr Neal Blewett A.C.
Australian High Commission
Australia House
The Strand
London WC2B 4LA

Dear Dr Neal Blewett,

Re: Invitation to sign the Sorry Book as Australia's representative in Britain

We are writing to formally invite you to sign the "Sorry Book" at its launch outside Australia House at 12 noon on 26 March 1998.

Signing the Book would give you an opportunity to formally apologise to the "Stolen Generations" of Indigenous Australians and to call on Prime Minister Howard to do the same. It would also enable you to repair some of the damage done to Australia's international reputation by Mr Howard's refusal to make a national apology.

We urge you, as Australia's representative in Britain, to be courageous and join with the tens of thousands of people, the churches, unions and community groups from across Australia who have already made an unconditional apology and so taken the first step towards Reconciliation.

The first Sorry Book was launched in Sydney on Australia Day, 26 January 1998, in response Mr Howard's refusal to make a national apology. There are now over 200 Sorry Books in Australia. All of the Books will be presented to Indigenous leaders on National Sorry Day, 26 May 1998.

The National Inquiry into the "Stolen Generations" estimated that between 1910 and 1970 up to 1 in 3 Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and communities. The Inquiry concluded that, "Forcible removal was an act of genocide contrary to the Convention on Genocide ratified by Australia in 1949." The Inquiry recommended that the Government make a national apology and proper reparations.

We would also like to ask you to extend this invitation to all members of your staff.

Yours sincerely,

Co-ordinator

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