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Australia - Aborigines finally get apology for injustices

18 February 2008 - Voice UK - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd last week made a historic public apology for the ‘indignity and degradation’ suffered by Aborigines.

The country’s newly appointed premier acknowledged that there was a responsibility for the nation to say sorry for the ‘past mistreatment’ of all Aborigines.

Previous prime minister John Howard, who was in power for 11 years, had always refused to apologise whenever the subject of repentance was raised.

In a speech, preceded by a welcoming ceremony conducted by aboriginal elders to mark the opening of the new parliamentary session, Rudd said: "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.

"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."

In another gesture of goodwill, Rudd said that the welcoming ceremony will become a parliamentary tradition.

While some were satisfied with the long overdue apology, many feel there is a long way to go before the injustices suffered by Aborigines will be redressed.

Living in squalid conditions, mostly in the deep outback of Australia, Aborigines presently have a life expectancy that is 17 years lower than the national average.

Australia has a population of 20 million people, of which Aborigines make up just under half a million. The formerly ostracized group suffer from higher rates of imprisonment, heart disease, infant mortality and domestic violence.

White settlers have only been in the country for 220 years.

Source: Voice UK

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