PRIME MINISTER
APOLOGY TO AUSTRALIA’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
13 FEBRUARY 2008
—I move:
That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the
oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were
Stolen Generations—this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in
Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving
forward with confidence to the future.
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.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and
their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations,
their
descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
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.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this
apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the
healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the
history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying
claim to a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the
past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians,
Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in
life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to
enduring problems where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual
responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly
equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in
shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country,
Australia.
There comes a time in the history of nations when their peoples must
become fully reconciled to their past if they are to go forward with
confidence to embrace their future. Our nation, Australia, has reached
such a time. And that is why the parliament is today here assembled: to
deal with this unfinished business of the nation, to remove a great
stain from the nation’s soul and, in a true spirit of reconciliation,
to open a new chapter in the history of this great land, Australia.
APOLOGY TO AUSTRALIA’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
13 FEBRUARY 2008
—I move:
That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the
oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were
Stolen Generations—this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in
Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving
forward with confidence to the future.
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.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and
their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations,
their
descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
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.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this
apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the
healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the
history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying
claim to a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the
past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians,
Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in
life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to
enduring problems where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual
responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly
equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in
shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country,
Australia.
There comes a time in the history of nations when their peoples must
become fully reconciled to their past if they are to go forward with
confidence to embrace their future. Our nation, Australia, has reached
such a time. And that is why the parliament is today here assembled: to
deal with this unfinished business of the nation, to remove a great
stain from the nation’s soul and, in a true spirit of reconciliation,
to open a new chapter in the history of this great land, Australia.
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