Apology - Stolen Generations

The thing I noticed about the speech, was Kevin Rudd's inability to put 3 words together, without reading!

I think this should be locked/deleted early.. it will turn into a chitfight.
Anyway, How can I be sorry for something i didnt do??


Bring on the lawyers now. The billions of $$ await you.

54533 didn't last long..
Should this post last any longer ???

its funny there was a post on here this morning that had comment against saying sorry that seems to be missing but i dont see the same censorship being followed here the opology is also offensive to some but i dont see the same rules apply here !
regards
al

There will be one huge corroboree/booze up in Canberra 2 night, hope the local bottle shops stocked up on emu export and Winnie Reds, hope they brought some more police into town too!

By the way I wonder who paid the air fares for all the aboriginals to go to Canberra??

OK, the Parliament of Australia, and therefore the non-indigenous people of Australia, have apologised for past wrongs. A magnaminous gesture that was overdue.

Now I would like the operators of the Jardine River Ferry to apologise for the robbery without violence that they have been practicing with their crossing fees!

I promise I won't ask to be compensated.

Cheers,

Russ.

Yep, I listened to both the speeches and I think that our Primne Minister chose the words well and acquiited the speech in a honourable manner.

The Leader of the Opposition did well too but did bring a little political bias into his speech.

Nevertheless, a standing ovation for Kevin Rudd. Maybe this bloke will take Australia a lot further foward than many previous governments espoused to do but never got that far.

The time had come to say SORRY and hopefully we can move forward in reconciliation with the First Inhabitants of this land.


Cheers

Took the day off today and did some much needed work around the house.
Listened to the apology [didnt have a choice really, the media made sure of that] and found it reasonably balanced. Didnt have a problem with it in the end.

What I do have a little problem with is all of the endless analizing going on in the media, their hacks, some weird and wonderful "experts" being trotted out for their opinions etc.

I cant honestly see how today is going to be 'one of the most defining moments in Australian history' as touted by just about every screen jockey seen today.

Its important but not THAT important.

Cheers....Lionel.

To those that are getting hung up over the word "sorry" - you can be sorry for something you're not personally responsible for. It's call empathy.

A good speech by Kevin Rudd.
As was said in the speech and as we should all do in our daily lives,
treat each other as we wish to be treated it would be a much better place.
Ask the question

" how would you feel"

just be prepared to start saving...those tax cuts we were promised will most likely be reclaimed when they figure out this is going to cost us tax payers Billions & Billions of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Laurie,

Thanks for posting those reports - as I was unable to be near a TV or radio when all that was on (but heard some of the radio talk shows immediately afterwards), I'd have missed out. But now you have given me an opportunity.


Cheers

PS publication day is getting closer. Will be posted direct to you in ~ 2 weeks.

An emotive day, no matter which side of the fence you're perched.

I offer my congratulations to all involved,



Now to get on with the job.

YAWN , nothing has changed , nothing will change except that now compensation will be demanded ,, young indigenous girls and boys will still be abused and then removed ,, the big catchcry of " its traditional" to marry off a 12 yr old to the 50 yr old uncle will remain , ,,,,, tell me Im wrong ,, oh yes it will all be nice and rosy now {insert sarcasm} because the white fella said sorry ,,,,,

There was not only aboriginal children taken, but also white children. My father was one of those children, so was his sister. My father was 8 and his sister was 10. When I got married he wanted to know what happened to his dad, he knew what happened to his mother and stepfather, but knew nothing of his dad.

So started my search to find my dad's father. It may sound easy, but in 1971 the WA child protection people decided that they had run out of room for files, so they started threading and pulping files, hundreds of files. None of which were copied, backed up or microfiched. My dad's family was one of the files that was pulped. He was extremely upset. He knows nothing of his mother, father or their family. Everything was destroyed in 1971. He was fostered at the age of 8 to foster monster ( that is not a typo), who had a business of fostering white kids for play money, the aboriginal kids paid more, so the white kids got treated worst, of a bad lot. He has just two photos of his mum, one when she was little girl, the other with her standing next to my father's step father.


Yesterday I rang my local federal MP office, to ask where my dad's apology was....he said there won't be one.

As you can understand, this whole issue has brought everything back for my dad, the beatings, the abuse, and not even be able to finish school ( his one regret), he had to start work fulltime work at 12, because the welfare people weren't paying enough. Today he was in tears, he is 67 year old, who today cried with the best of them. The only time I have seen this upset was when he found out his life he had been living was lie, his name was wrong and he had 1 half sister and 2 half brother he would never meet, because even though they were in the file ( court records are kept), their names were black out.

Debbie

didnt take long.. but its not about money, its about MOVING ON.... ROTFLMAO..




Leaders push for 'sorry' compensation

February 13, 2008 - 5:05PM

Aboriginal leader Patrick Dodson has urged the Federal Government to follow today's apology with compensation for the stolen generations.

Mr Dodson, the former chairman of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, said anyone treated badly under the law deserved to pursue recompense.

He said the debate leading up to today's apology to indigenous people had not been edifying.

"There is an exaggerated anxiety that there will be an avalanche of demands for monetary compensation," he said in an address to the National Press Club in Canberra.

"Even if the courts said there was a case for compensation would the scale cripple our economic future?

"Any group of people who have been treated badly under laws made legitimately by the crown deserve to pursue compensation judicially, legally or politically and they deserve our support."

Mr Dodson said the whole issue of making good on the past, including compensation for the stolen generation, wasn't easily pursued.

He said there were many "blemishes" on indigenous Australia but they could be fixed.

"These blemishes, however, are not tattoos or birthmarks. They are removable stains on the fabric of our society and we must begin the task immediately."

He listed a number of areas that needed to be looked at closely including housing needs, appalling health figures and life expectancies, drug dependency and the number of young indigenous men in prison.

West Australian Aboriginal leader Jim Morrison said saying sorry was a good start but the stolen generations need compensation.

The Bringing Them Home committee chairman said for a lot of Aboriginal Australians the Government's apology was just the start of their struggle, he said.

"For the people who heard the apology, and the word "sorry", it's about moving on and healing.

"But it's about moving forward now and educating the wider Australia to what is this all about."

"I think it's everyone's right, I mean if you are compensated for any wrongdoing, it's done in the normal court of law.

"So why shouldn't there be a fund put aside for people who have experienced the trauma and the sexual abuse and the endless trauma that's incurred and whose lives have been on missions and have been part of a displaced people."

Monash University law professor Susan Kneebone, however, said any compensation claims were unlikely to succeed.

Professor Kneebone said people who wished to make a claim had to establish a link between any harm they've suffered and the government policy.

"I'm sure people will be encouraged by the apology to claim compensation,"she said.

"But I don't think that as a matter of law it is going to make it any easier for people to actually establish their claims."

Claims brought in the past have been rarely successful, according to Professor Kneebone.

She said the only successful claims have been when people could specifically establish they had suffered some harm.

Professor Kneebone said a South Australian case, which showed that a man taken away as a child had suffered differently from other family members, was a rare successful claim.

She said Australia's "conservative court system" would also make it "enormously difficult" for claims to succeed.

AAP

yeh companasation is a sure thing . you have to be nieve if you think its not going to happen.
it is like a bussiness in itself , the lawers will be rubbing there hands together , bleep they problably filed for it the second the first word sorry came out.

I hope I don't offend here , it is not my intention. The way I see it , the indigenous people of Australia got there apology today. I don't see how it's changed anything. I really don't understand why it was so important to them to get this apology . Hopefully there is a indigenous person on this site that can explain it to me .
My Back ground is Greek. the Greeks were under Turkish occupation for 400 years , there children were taken , taken and slaughtered . I don't hear my parents asking for a apology. Maby it's because they know the answer , who knows , Just my ten cents worth.

Empathy for what was done to Aboriginals is fine but if we as a nation have to admit our wrongs should it not also be expected of those that where moved from situations of neglect to say thank you.

Interestingly, I head on TV tonight, that an indigenous child was removed from it's parents, actually from the camp on Parliament House grounds yesterday.

Well, fellas and girls, I guess this post has about run it's course. May I please make a response?

1) I'm so surprised that my post brought so many replies and follow ups. I thought that all that needed to be said on this forum about the apology had been said in previous posts. But I see that it is a very important issue to many.

The number of views of this post and the number of visits to my website are an indication of how important an issue, reconciliation between the white and indigenous communities is. And that's great.

2) For those who are not clear about the future for reconciliation or other aspects of today's momentous turn around, you might wish to read the apology and the speeches in full, on my website. Please see the links at the top.

I went to a bit of trouble to publish the documents in full, which is quite different to the TV, radio, print and online media news stories.

The purpose of my post was to offer you all the opportunity to read the account in full, given that many would have missed the live broadcast from parliament house.

3) Both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition seem resolute that compensation isn't appropriate. Kevin Rudd sees the way forward for the Aboriginal people in terms of money and effort invested in health, education, employment, community development, law and order, child protection and the like.

4) Those of us who witnessed and participated in the whole apology and those who've seen an abridged version on the TV news, have today participated in honesty and sincerity of the kind necessary for Australia to be a great nation. And we all have the choice before us whether or not to be great men and women.

Regards,
Laurie.

Mfewster, thank you for sharing your words of wisdom. Coming from a country where racisms was enforced by law, it saddens me to read some of the negative comment on this forum. I consider myself to be a proud Australian citizen and cannot understand the lack of emotion and humility displayed by some (even close friends). I love this country and will support it in all its endeavors to insure it will always be the best place in the world to live.

Craig

Whilst I applaud the Govt in making the apology and as an Australian I agree that the apology needed to be made Im sick of people playing the blame game. Previous govts believed they were doing the right thing...history will show that it was in fact the wrong thing.

But don't...don't blame the aboriginal situation on what happened all those years ago.

What is happening with the aboriginal situation is largely of their own doing. Nobody is forcing them to live in humpys..nobody is forcing them to get drunk on a daily basis...nobody is forcing them to beat their families.

They need to get over it. Build a bridge. Eat cement and harden up.

Sheesh..how long does the average Australian have to take the blame for what has happened to the aboriginals.

As far as Rudd speanding more money on aboriginal everything. Why not spend the money on AUSTRALIAN everything. Aussie health...Aussie education etc. Its time Australia United as one people not white and Black. One law not 1 for black and 1 for white.
I am a proud Australian...does my colour rely matter???

Peter

what an utter non event now the whole circus is playing out can it pleeeeze get over and done with so real issues can be dealt with
FACT (irrafutable)
no one is better off actually probably the time taken has diverted resources away from real issues that may have assisted people
If as much time and effort was spent on making a real difference australia and all its inhabitants would be better off
SHEEESH talk about fiddling while rome burns

Alot of opinions on here but has anyone here actually known a stolen generation person????????????????
First hand and seen what the apology is all about???
Well i have!!
-sorry for the private school education
- sorry for the most loving family anyone could wish for including the stepbrother whom actually gives a damn
- sorry for the type of up bringing that caused him to be very popular amongst his peers
- Sorry he was given the chance to excell at football and cricket
- Sorry I spent a few weeks hanging out with him in Ceduna tpatrolling the dogfence with his (scandoulsy loving parents) freinds
heck i wish id been stolen

The "Sorry" speech was an apology frm the Australian Government, not the Austrtalian people. I thought that was a good way to handle it.

Now perhaps we, as a country, can move on.

Jack

The one person who amazed me in all this was Malcolm Fraser. He was interviewed by Sky News agenda after the speeches.... His staunch support of Rudd goes against everything i have ever known about this one-eyed Lib. He still is a very articulate and intelligent man and i have found a respect for him which he never had from me during his reign as PM. Onya Mal...pity your little ex-treasurer didn't front eh?

How many times do we have to hear from 'ignorant' people who say "how can I say sorry for something that I didn't do, or wasn't even born when it happened".

Try this next time you run into a friend who has just lost a loved one....
"I would say sorry that you lost your (father/mother/sister etc.).... BUT I didn't do it and I wasn't even there, so I can't say sorry!!"

Its not that hard people, and you won't be held responsible for doing so! AND it might just heal some wounds for some people that need to hear it.
now who wants a hug?

There was genuine, unrestrained emotional relief from the thousands of Aboriginal Australians gathered to watch this speech. We will be talking about this in 20 years time as an important historical event.

The 1967 referendum received over 90% support and i believe this apology has a similar support.

All those who complian about a little bit of money spent on plane flights, or find some other thing to complain about, shut up! You really have no idea, you are in the minority and are making fools of yourself. Did anyone yesterday actually listen to the leader of the oppostion's speech?

Lets hope Rudd follows this up with actual incentives for people (teachers, nurses, police) to go and work in communities. These people get poor pay, live in crappy houses and get little support. Making it worthwhile for workers to go would be a good place to start.

Barnesy

This may or may not help people understand.

Why Warriors

Steve.

Provider navigation:
Summary | AAP | ABC | Photos
Friday February 15, 10:29 AM
Up to 40 to ask for compo after apology
Up to 40 indigenous Australians are preparing compensation claims against the Victorian government following this week's official apology to the stolen generations.

Victorian man Neville Austin, 44, is planning to launch Victoria's first stolen generation claim.




His solicitors have briefed barrister Jack Rush QC, who was part of the legal team that won a $4 billion payout from James Hardie Industries for former workers exposed to lethal doses of asbestos.

But the head of Stolen Generations Victoria and Mr Austin's cousin, Lyn Austin, said while she could not comment on Mr Austin's case, dozens more were preparing similar claims.

"I cannot make comment on that case at all, but ... I do know that there are another 30 or 40 that are going to be doing a civil action claim," she told ABC Radio in Melbourne.

"They have a right to pursue a claim if they wish, they were removed through the policies that were upon them."

Ms Austin said it was a person's prerogative to take civil action if they wished.

"It should be left for the courts and people to have that choice and make a choice of whether they take a civil claim individually or class action," she said.

Mr Austin's writ is yet to be filed with the court and does not nominate a payout figure, but claimants in other states have won between $350,000 and $500,000.

Fellow Victorian Bruce Trevorrow won $775,000 when a South Australian court ruled his removal from his family caused long-term depression.

Mr Rush confirmed he was representing Mr Austin in a stolen generation claim.

"I can say I represent him, but I can't talk about the case at all," he told AAP.

"We haven't issued it yet, but it's in the pipeline."

Mr Rush said he has been working on the case with Mr Austin for 12 months.

However, he would not say how much compensation has been sought by Mr Austin or the nature of the case.

A spokesman for Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Minister Richard Wynne said the government did not yet know the details of the claim.

"We have not received a writ from Mr Austin and cannot comment on the specifics of the case," spokesman Ben Ruse said.

"The Victorian Parliament made a bipartisan apology in 1997 and this was reiterated in 2000.

"No compensation has flowed from this apology and our position on compensation has not changed."

Put all the emotion aside.

Think about the persecution of a number of races which we call aborigines for 200+ years.

Is this Australian?

Please advise.

Cheers