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49 MPs sign ‘Sorry’ motion in House of Commons
25
May 2001 - ENIAR media release - As Sorry Day looms again, still without an official apology from the Australian Government, the news from Britain is that 49 MPs have now signed Early Day Motion 927 tabled by Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn apologising to Aboriginal people for past British policies and calling on Australian Governments to redress current discrimination. 
The text of Jeremy Corbyn's Early Day Motion is as follows (our indents):
- 'That this House notes the official visit to the United Kingdom of the Prime Minister of Australia and the celebrations to mark Australia Week 2000;
- acknowledges the close ties between the peoples of the United Kingdom and Australia as Commonwealth partners, in war and peace, in trade sport and professional co-operation;
- however , also notes that the Aboriginal and Islander peoples of Australia have little to celebrate, that their life expectance is 17 years less than other Australians and their infant mortality is twice as high;
- acknowledges the oppression and injustices inflicted on Aboriginal peoples and apologises for the suffering caused by past British policies;
- further acknowledges current discrimination and disadvantage suffered by Aboriginal peoples in health, education, job opportunities and provision of public services;
- and therefore calls on the Governments and peoples of Australia to mark the Centenary of Federation by committing themselves to redress that discrimination and disadvantage, and to recognise the special status and rights of Aboriginal peoples as the indigenous peoples of Australia.'
The Motion has now been signed by these MPs:
Jeremy Corbyn, Dianne Abbott, John Austin, Tony Banks, Harry Barnes, Peter Bradley, Tom Brake, Martin Caton, David Clarke, Tony Clarke, Frank Cook, Tom Cox, Ann Cryer, Lawrence Cunliffe, Jim Cunningham, Keith Darvill, Terry Davis, Huw Edwards, Clive Efford, Bill Etherington, Margerat Ewing, Paul Flynn, Andrew George, Sandra Gidley, Donald Gorrie, Win Griffiths, Nick Harvey, Kelvin Hopkins, Barry Jones, Jenny Jones, Lynne Jones, Nigel Jones, Ashok Kumar, David Lepper, John McDonnell, John McFall, John McWilliam, Bill Richie, Julie Morgan, Andrew Reed, Bob Russell, Mohammad Sarwar, Malcolm Savidge, Alan Simpson, Dennis Skinner, Desmond Turner, Bill Tynan, Rudi Vis, Derek Wyatt
Link to early day motion
related links:
Further information: stolen generations issues page - includes news index and external links
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