"I give notice that, at the next sitting, I will 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."
6 comments:
The sentiment is good the words, on the whole complete.It is so wonderful that we have finally made this step, But i find the idea that we can right these wrongs to be wishfull thinking. These wrongs were done and cannot be undone, rather they must be learn't from so that they do not happen again, we must not forget what was done and we must extend this appology to others that were wronged in similar fashion.
Most of all we must now wait with patience and understanding as they have waited, while these peoples find the courage and peace within to forgive us. Then the future can be made.
I loved the words...but what a racial country we are, we think we are not because of the work we are in...
there are no Kooris in my street, my town...they are still on the edge, on the missions..not out west, here in our coastal oasis...
Count the Kooris in year 11 or 12...my town none!...how many koori kids at the skate park? None...the beach none! At the local dentist None, Doctors None...When we accept them as our neighbours, in our streets, in our homes, their kids with ours...then i will believe todays words had meaning for all...
We dont have to right wrongs...we need to each of us accept that aboriginal people have the same rights to everything that we whites take for granted, be that housing...or down to the shoes teen boys love to be seen in...
It seems in general the world has a long way to go. I only hope we continue to move forward and not backwards. I feel my country (the US) has moved 2 steps backwards, and I am ready now to take 3 steps forward.
I had aboriginal friends when I was a kid. I have an uncle who is an aboriginal.
I am not convinced this changes anything. I am not being negative either.
as a 30-something woman who only discovered her Aboriginal heritage last year, the last few days have been challenging in both and interal and external way. i will post more about it on the weekend, just putting thoughts together in my head at the moment, but i do think kevin's speech was a turning point for our country.
It is quite strange. My uncle always told us he was Italian. I guess he and his mother lived with the "shame" of who they were.
However- he is just another human being, clever, talented, wealthy and as an "ordinary" man a real credit to himself- by that I mean successful. He was in the education system as a headmaster and working as a lecturer in one of our Universities.
What is amazing ( for me) is that I never understood why he was SO into caravans and disppearing all the time- now I know! he goes walkabout!! :o)
Kyles I can only beign to imagine how you are feeling since the announcement but more importantly since discovering who you really are.
(Sorry MTN girl for my waffle) :o)
I think all of this is really cool.
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