Lexi Webster
On February 13, 2008, the Australian government, led by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, issued a formal apology to the Indigenous peoples of the country, specifically the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, for the historical mistreatment and injustices they faced, particularly the removal of their children from their families, communities, and culture, known as the Stolen Generations. This apology, presented as a motion in Parliament, marked a significant step in acknowledging the wrongdoings of the past and seeking reconciliation and healing for the nation. The event, witnessed by thousands in Canberra and across Australia, was met with a range of emotions, with many regarding it as a vital first step towards addressing the painful legacy of past policies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of apology | 13 February 2008 |
| Who gave the apology | Prime Minister Kevin Rudd |
| Who was the apology given to | Indigenous Australians, specifically the Stolen Generations |
| Reason for the apology | To address the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, communities, and culture |
| Public opinion | 69% supported the apology, but only 30% supported government compensation |
| Previous efforts | The 1997 Bringing Them Home report recommended an official apology, and National Sorry Day has been observed since 1998 |
| Impact | The apology was an important step towards healing and reconciliation, but many report recommendations have not been implemented |
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What You'll Learn
The Stolen Generations
The removals were often carried out by governments, churches, and welfare bodies, with the children being raised in institutions, fostered out, or adopted by non-Indigenous families both within Australia and internationally. The impact of these actions has been intergenerational trauma for the Stolen Generations, their descendants, and the families they left behind.
In recognition of this injustice, there have been efforts to address and rectify the wrongdoings of the past. In 1997, the Bringing Them Home report was released, detailing the findings of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children. The report recommended an official apology from the Australian government and reparations for the Indigenous population. It also included 54 recommendations to redress the wrongs, including funding for Indigenous healing services.
Following the release of the report, grassroots movements and campaigns emerged to spread awareness and build support for a federal apology. The National Sorry Day Committee played a significant role in organising events and protests, including the first National Sorry Day held on May 26, 1998, which was described as "the people's apology." Subsequently, between 1997 and 1999, all state and territory parliaments officially apologised for the laws, policies, and practices that led to the forcible removal of Indigenous children.
In 2007, the Labor Party, led by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, expressed support for a formal public apology specifically addressing the Stolen Generations. On February 13, 2008, Rudd presented the apology as a motion to Parliament, becoming the first Prime Minister to issue a formal apology in an official capacity. The National Apology was witnessed by thousands of people in Canberra and broadcast across the country, evoking a range of emotions among those affected. While it was acknowledged as a vital first step in the healing process, many also recognised that it would not erase the pain of the past.
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The Bringing Them Home report
The National Inquiry was established by the Attorney General in 1995 and took testimony from over 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as Indigenous organisations, foster parents, government representatives, church representatives, former government employees, and community members. The final report was 689 pages long and detailed the past laws, practices, and policies that resulted in the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.
A key recommendation of the report was the need for an official acknowledgement of, and apology for, the forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This recommendation was addressed with the National Apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008. While the report has had a significant impact, it is important to note that some of its recommendations have not yet been fully implemented, and the trauma caused by forced removal continues to affect Indigenous communities.
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The National Sorry Day Committee
The committee encourages the use of social media to promote National Sorry Day, providing downloadable content and hashtags such as #unfinishedbusiness and #bringingthemhome. The Healing Foundation, a partner of the National Sorry Day Committee, supports community events such as the National Sorry Day Bridge Walk and the NSW/ACT Stolen Generations Council Sorry Day, which include cultural activities, ceremonies, and discussions on reconciliation.
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The Liberal Party opposition
Former Liberal minister Judi Moylan also supported the apology, saying:
> I think as a nation we owe an apology. We shouldn't be thinking about it as an individual apology — it's an apology that is coming from the nation state because it was governments that did these things.
In 1997, the Keating Labor Government commissioned the Bringing Them Home report, which recommended an official apology be offered by the Australian Government for past government welfare policies that had separated children from their parents on racial grounds. John Howard, the Liberal successor to Keating, received the report but refused to issue an apology, stating that he did not believe genocide was committed against Indigenous Australians. Instead, he drafted a Parliamentary "Motion of Reconciliation", avoiding the use of the word "sorry" as he believed an apology would imply "intergenerational guilt".
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The Australian Human Rights Commission
In 1997, the Commission produced the Bringing Them Home report, which was an inquiry into the government policies and practices that resulted in the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities. This report detailed the devastating impact of these practices on the Stolen Generations and their families, and made 54 recommendations to redress the wrongs, including the need for an official apology.
The report sparked a grassroots movement for reconciliation, with thousands of Australians participating in the Sorry Book campaign, which culminated in the first National Sorry Day on May 26, 1998. This day has since become an annual event in Australia, a day of remembrance and solidarity with the Stolen Generations.
The Commission's report and the subsequent public response played a pivotal role in building momentum for an official government apology. In 2007, the newly elected Labor Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, announced his government's intention to issue a formal apology in consultation with Aboriginal leaders. On February 13, 2008, Rudd presented the long-awaited apology to Australia's Indigenous peoples on behalf of the federal government, marking a significant step towards reconciliation and healing.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian government apologized for the forced removal and separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, communities, and country. This period is known as the Stolen Generations.
The Stolen Generations refers to the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children by governments, churches, and welfare bodies. These children were raised in institutions, fostered out, or adopted by non-Indigenous families, nationally and internationally.
The apology was witnessed by thousands of people gathered in Canberra and broadcast all over the country. A Newspoll released in the week following the apology found that 69% of the country supported it. However, only 30% of the population supported government compensation to the victims.
