home | news l

$4m state compo for stolen children

By SUE NEALES

27 June 2006 - Premier Paul Lennon expects to have legislation ready before the end of the year to compensate Tasmania's "stolen generation" of Aboriginal people.

Mr Lennon said the payments would be made to Tasmanian individuals who had been wronged by society by being taken from their families as children because of their Aboriginal race and colour.

The move will make Tasmania the first state in Australia to address the issue with monetary compensation, expected to total more than $4 million.

Mr Lennon told estimates committee hearings in Parliament yesterday that the compensation legislation would need to pass both houses of Parliament and would be complex and difficult.

He accepted that some claims for compensation would be difficult to adjudicate and acknowledged that other states would be watching Tasmania's approach carefully.

"But I see this as a major step toward Aboriginal reconciliation in this state," Mr Lennon said.
"I am sure it will not be a divisive one in the Tasmanian Parliament."

The Premier promised to involve the Greens and Liberals, who have both indicated their agreement in principle for the move, before his Cabinet decided the final shape of the proposed laws.

Source: The Mercury

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