National Apology to the Stolen Generations Anniversary

National Apology to the Stolen Generations Anniversary

13 February

National Apology Day is a day of reflection and healing. On this day we remember and acknowledge the harm caused by government policies and by some of the people who implemented them to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were taken away from their families, their land, their language and their culture; the Stolen Generations. We also acknowledge the impacts on their families who live with those lost connections.

The day commemorates the formal apology delivered by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008 to Australia’s Stolen Generations. It was televised live to both Houses of Parliament and in front of many members of the Stolen Generations who were invited there to witness the event. It was also televised to all Australians. In the apology, the Government called on all Australians to reflect on the past policies and practices that form an important part of our country’s history, particularly the relations between First Nations and other Australians.

The National Apology was a recommendation from the Bringing Them Home report which was tabled in Parliament in 1997. 

5a. That all Australian Parliaments
1.   officially acknowledge the responsibility of their predecessors for the laws, policies and practices of forcible removal,
2.   negotiate with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission [ATSIC] a form of words for official apologies to Indigenous individuals, families and communities and extend those apologies with wide and culturally appropriate publicity, and
3.   make appropriate reparation as detailed in following recommendations.

 

NT Children at Mulgoa Mission NSW - Christmas 1946

NT Children at the Mulgoa Mission (NSW), Christmas 1946 (R Donaldson photographer) Courtesy State Library of NSW Pix Collection.

Digital Keeping Place NE1-0190599

 

The Northern Territory Legislative Assembly officially apologised to the Stolen Generations on 24th October, 2001. The motion acknowledged the trauma caused by the removal of Aboriginal children under the Aboriginals Ordinance and recognised the role of government assimilation policies.  On 3rd August 2024, the NT Police Commissioner also apologised for the Northern Territory Police Force's role in these injustices.

Resources:

NT Education Mob Digital Keeping Place - Stolen Generation/s Community Collection

Museum of Australia   Classroom Resources

Parliament of Australia - Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples - From this page:

  • Read the full transcript of the National Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples motion, 13 February 2008
  • Read the Bringing Them Home report
  • Watch the Apology speech by Kevin Rudd A
  • Watch the response speech by Professor Tom Calma AO, Kungarakan Elder
  • Read the full transcript of Tom Calma’s response
  • Read the Senate speeches, 13 February 2008
  • Read the Federation Chamber debates, February 2008

Reconciliation Australia

Healing Foundation - National Apology

Google search for National Apology to Stolen Generation 2008