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A call for action on an apology to the Stolen Generations

LET’S GET IT RIGHT!!!

THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE NEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

26 November 2007 - Media release - The National Sorry Day Committee congratulates the ALP on its election victory and in welcoming the advent of a Federal Labor Government, calls on Prime Minister Elect, Kevin Rudd, to honour his pre-election promises for an Apology, towards Reconciliation, and about Human Rights.

The NSDC applauds Mr Rudd for announcing in his Victory Speech that:

He will be a Prime Minister for all Australians; a Prime Minister for Indigenous Australians

despite the pre-election public back-down from his earlier support for a referendum on Aboriginal reconciliation in the first term of his government and consequent retreat from advocating First Nations Constitutional Status for Indigenous Australia.

In calling on the Rudd Government to honor Labor’s election promises the NSDC points to the long term principles of the ALP National Platform and 2007 constitution, and specifically to those under platform principles 46, 125 & 126 of Chapter thirteen: “Respecting Human Rights and a Fair Go”:

Stolen Generations

46. Labor values the symbolic importance of a national apology and commits to reconciliation as a vehicle for healing and justice in Australian society
125. Labor recognises that past government policies, which separated Indigenous children from their
families continue to have adverse economic, social and cultural effects. The trauma caused by these policies continues to affect all generations of Indigenous families, including the younger generation.

126. Labor will provide a comprehensive response to the Bringing them Home Report, including a formal apology. Labor will also ensure that remedial initiatives such as link-up and family history programs and Bringing Them Home counsellors are adequately resourced to meet demand.
Accordingly, an assertion by Labor of a bald ‘Statement of Regret’ would be inadequate.

The apology needs to be more than a tokenistic or symbolic gesture of reconciliation, it needs to be more than a ‘Statement of ‘SORRY.’

It therefore ought neither be extended in the first 100 days of office of the new Federal Government, nor in the first sitting of Parliament.

What however is needed during the Rudd Governments first 100 days of office however, is careful consideration and appropriate consultation with Stolen Generations survivors, Aboriginal Community
members and organisations, Aboriginal Service Providers, HREOC, and Advocate Bodies who work towards justice for the Stolen Generations.

The Federal Government must commit to working in partnership and in a whole of Government approach with these parties so that together a clear direction and planned positive outcome are formulated, that will enable the National Apology to effectively impact the full implementation and fulfillment of the remaining 53 recommendations of the Bringing Them Home Report

In doing so, the NSDC calls on Prime Minister Elect Rudd and his Ministers to adhere to the essential principles of Recommendation 5a of the Bringing Them Home Report and negotiate a form of words for a national apology with the appropriate representatives of those able to receive it not withstanding the abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, in as much that all Australian Parliaments:

1.Officially acknowledge the responsibility of their predecessors for the laws, policies and practices of forced removal;

2.Negotiate with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission a form of words for official apologies to Indigenous individuals, families and communities and extend those apologies with wide and culturally appropriate publicity; and

3.Make appropriate reparations as detailed in following recommendations.

As 2008 will be the tenth Anniversary of Sorry Day, the NSDC Recommends that the National Federal Apology to the Stolen Generations, their families, ancestors and descendants be enacted on National Sorry Day May, 26th 2008.

The National Sorry Day Committee Executive

Media Contact:
Ms Helen Moran
NSDC Indigenous Co-Chair
Ph: 0413246470
Email: helen@nsdc.org.au

Source: NSDC

Further information: stolen generations issues page - includes news index and external links