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“I move:
That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the
oldest con琀椀nuing cultures in human history.
We re昀氀ect on their past mistreatment.
We re昀氀ect in par琀椀cular on the mistreatment of those who were
Stolen Genera琀椀ons – this blemished chapter in our
na琀椀on's history.
The 琀椀me has now come for the na琀椀on to turn a new page in
Australia's history by righ琀椀ng the wrongs of the past and so
moving forward with con昀椀dence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments
and governments that have in昀氀icted profound grief, su昀昀ering and
loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander children from their families, their communi琀椀es and
their country.
For the pain, su昀昀ering and hurt of these Stolen Genera琀椀ons,
their descendants and for their families le昀琀 behind, we say
sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters,
for the breaking up of families and communi琀椀es, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degrada琀椀on thus in昀氀icted on a proud
people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respec琀昀ully request that this
apology be received in the spirit in which it is o昀昀ered as part of
the healing of the na琀椀on.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in
the history of our great con琀椀nent can now be wri琀琀en.
We today take this 昀椀rst step by acknowledging the past and
laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injus琀椀ces of
the past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determina琀椀on of all Australians,
Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between
us in life expectancy, educa琀椀onal achievement and economic
opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solu琀椀ons 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 opportuni琀椀es and with an equal
stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great
country, Australia.”
– Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, 13 February, 2008