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The world watched as Australia said 'Sorry'

Apology to the Stolen Generations from Australia's PM Kevin Rudd photo courtesy Katrina Mathieson/eniar

urgent action MPs' signatures needed to support EDM 1000

On 13 February Kevin Rudd Prime Minister made the first item of Australia's new government an official apology to the Stolen Generations. The apology received bipartisan support.

"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."

Extract - Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples 13 February 2008
download full speech as a pdf

British MPs’ motion to support Australia’s ‘sorry’ to Indigenous Australians

21 February 2008 - EDM 1000 tabled in the British parliament

Begins
Indigenous Australians
That this House recalls Great Britain's role in the colonisation, settlement and early governance of Australia;  acknowledges Great Britain's responsibility for the suffering and degradation inflicted on indigenous Australians including the removal of indigenous human remains and material culture; supports the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, in his apology to the stolen generations and other indigenous Australians for the pain, loss, deprivation and abuse they have suffered; recognises the continuing strength and  vitality of the indigenous peoples of Australia and their culture; supports the Australian government's commitment to recognising the special status of Australia's indigenous peoples and tackling the inequalities still facing indigenous Australians.
Ends

 

'sorry' news items from around the world

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related links:

• Stolen Generations issues page - includes 'sorry' news items and Media Releases from Australia
• British MPs’ motion to support Australia’s ‘sorry’ to Indigenous people welcome
  23 February 2008 - Media Release - The European Network for Indigenous Australian Rights (ENIAR) has welcomed the British MPs’ motion acknowledging responsibility for ill-treatment of Indigenous Australians.

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