Australia apology to Aborigines

Kyt · Feb 12, 2008

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Australia apology to Aborigines

The Australian government has made a formal apology for the past wrongs inflicted by successive governments on the indigenous Aboriginal population.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised in parliament in the capital, Canberra, for the laws and polices that inflicted "profound grief, suffering and loss".

Mr Rudd also singled out the "Stolen Generations" of thousands of children forcibly removed from their families.

On Tuesday, parliament began a new session with an Aboriginal welcome.

In a special ceremony in Members Hall, Aboriginal elder Matilda House handed a symbolic message stick to Mr Rudd and spoke of "the hope of a united nation through reconciliation".

"Today we begin with one small step to set right the wrongs of the past," Mr Rudd said afterwards.

'Indignity and degradation'

In a motion presented to Australian MPs on Wednesday morning, Mr Rudd acknowledged the "past mistreatment" of all of his country's Aboriginal population.

The Australian government has made a formal apology for the past wrongs inflicted by successive governments on the indigenous Aboriginal population.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised in parliament in the capital, Canberra, for the laws and polices that inflicted "profound grief, suffering and loss".

Mr Rudd also singled out the "Stolen Generations" of thousands of children forcibly removed from their families.

On Tuesday, parliament began a new session with an Aboriginal welcome.

In a special ceremony in Members Hall, Aboriginal elder Matilda House handed a symbolic message stick to Mr Rudd and spoke of "the hope of a united nation through reconciliation".

"Today we begin with one small step to set right the wrongs of the past," Mr Rudd said afterwards.

'Indignity and degradation'

In a motion presented to Australian MPs on Wednesday morning, Mr Rudd acknowledged the "past mistreatment" of all of his country's Aboriginal population.

"For the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry."

Australia has no Aboriginal members in parliament, but 100 leaders of the community and members of the Stolen Generations were present for the historic apology.

The parliamentary session was also shown live on television as well as on a series of screens erected in cities across the country to allow crowds to watch.

The government hopes the apology will repair the breach between white and black Australia.

The BBC's Nick Bryant in Canberra, however, says the refusal to accompany it with any compensation has angered many aboriginal leaders.

New agenda

The previous Prime Minister, John Howard, refused to apologise to members of the Stolen Generations, a position which chimes with about 30% of the population, according to the polls.

But the Liberal Party he led until last November's election has now decided to alter its stance, so all sides will take part in the apology.

Mr Rudd's agenda, also outlined in parliament on Tuesday, included a commitment to close the 17-year life expectancy gap between Aborigines and other Australians within a generation, was well as halving Aboriginal infant mortality rates within a decade.

Australia's 460,000 Aborigines make up 2% of the population and are the most disadvantaged group.

They have higher rates of infant mortality, drug abuse, alcoholism and unemployment than the rest of the population.
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