This year 13 February 2021 marks 13 years since former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd AC delivered an official apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008 upon winning the 2007 election.
A National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their families–headed by then President of the Human Rights and Equality Commission, Sir Roland Wilson–commenced in 1995.
Close to 800 submissions for the inquiry were heard by the end of 1996, which prompted the Parliament to table the Bringing Them Home report in May 1997.
The Parliament concluded that many individuals had their lives permanently scarred due to their “removal as children and abuse experienced at the authorities’ hands or their delegates”.
“I move: that today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history,” Mr Rudd said.
“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,” he added.
“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,” Mr Rudd continued.
“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.”
Speaking with The Record, ArchdiocesanAboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM) DirectorDonella Brown and Cheryl Lennox-Bradley, Aboriginal Catholic Council (ACC) Chairperson acknowledged the apology, however, they believe that the Australian community still has issues to be addressed.
“We still have the same issues, such as incarcerations of juveniles, high unemployment and suicide rates. Although I can see a change in attitudes through education, we still have all those social issues. We still have a long way to go,” Ms Brown and Mrs Lennox-Bradley said.
“The issues don’t only lie with the indigenous people but also with the non-indigenous people. We know that the Government has done its apology, but the real change will only happen on the ground with everyday people, by accepting and acknowledging each other.
“I am positive for the possibility of change in our community,” Ms Brown added.