Crian PadayacheeThe Apology
February 13th 2008 00:44
The government's formal apology to the stolen generations has been delivered by Australia’s new prime minister, Kevin Rudd and now Australia can once again begin the long road towards reconciliation.
There were no surprises in Mr. Rudd’s address and apology – it was a respectful, thoughtful and sympathetic apology addressed to the people who at the hands of hateful governmental policy have been made to endure hardships that most white Australians can only dream about.
This type of apology is what all Indigenous Australians have been calling for from the Australian Government for many decades and it is no surprise that Australia’s new Labor Government delivered an apology that was received with rapturous applause by everyone in parliament house and outside on the grounds.
Mr. Rudd then passed the microphone to the new leader of the opposition, Dr. Brendan Nelson and the whole mood of the parliament changed from one of pride, to one of awkward embarrassment.
Why did the opposition – the party responsible for so much indigenous suffering over the last decade and a party which refused to apologise for so many years – have to give a formal apology to the stolen generations? Surely the Labor address was enough and a Liberal response was not needed.
You could see and feel while Dr. Nelson was addressing the nation that this was not appropriate. The wording, phrasing and delivery of the Liberal address was inappropriate and insensitive. The address seemed more like a justification of history rather than an apology for inhumane governmental policy.
Parliament gave a muted applause and people outside of parliament house turned their backs while Dr. Nelson spoke and already - only one and a half hours after the address – I have heard and read many people comment about the inappropriate nature of the Liberal address.
Today I truly realized the trouble the Liberal Party of Australia has gotten itself into. The landslide victory to the Labor Party in last November’s election has been fully justified today and today the Liberal Party dug themselves into an even greater hole by refusing to give a proper apology to the most underprivileged group of people in Australian society.
There were no surprises in Mr. Rudd’s address and apology – it was a respectful, thoughtful and sympathetic apology addressed to the people who at the hands of hateful governmental policy have been made to endure hardships that most white Australians can only dream about.
This type of apology is what all Indigenous Australians have been calling for from the Australian Government for many decades and it is no surprise that Australia’s new Labor Government delivered an apology that was received with rapturous applause by everyone in parliament house and outside on the grounds.
Mr. Rudd then passed the microphone to the new leader of the opposition, Dr. Brendan Nelson and the whole mood of the parliament changed from one of pride, to one of awkward embarrassment.
Dr. Nelson
Why did the opposition – the party responsible for so much indigenous suffering over the last decade and a party which refused to apologise for so many years – have to give a formal apology to the stolen generations? Surely the Labor address was enough and a Liberal response was not needed.
You could see and feel while Dr. Nelson was addressing the nation that this was not appropriate. The wording, phrasing and delivery of the Liberal address was inappropriate and insensitive. The address seemed more like a justification of history rather than an apology for inhumane governmental policy.
Parliament gave a muted applause and people outside of parliament house turned their backs while Dr. Nelson spoke and already - only one and a half hours after the address – I have heard and read many people comment about the inappropriate nature of the Liberal address.
Today I truly realized the trouble the Liberal Party of Australia has gotten itself into. The landslide victory to the Labor Party in last November’s election has been fully justified today and today the Liberal Party dug themselves into an even greater hole by refusing to give a proper apology to the most underprivileged group of people in Australian society.
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