feb 13, 2008 - Sorry Speech by Kevin Rudd

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After winning the 2007 election, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd began talking with Indigenous Australians about the form an apology should take. The new commitment to Indigenous affairs, a “Welcome to Country” ceremony was held at the opening Parliament. Crowds of people across Australia watched the Apology on big screens in their own cities and towns. This was the first time that such a ceremony was held. Photographs and videos were recorded of those witnessing the great Apology and how it impacted them.

At the speech, there were the happy tears of all those impacted by the stolen generation. There were reflective faces as the Prime Minister spoke of the wrongs governments had inflicted on Indigenous peoples across Australia and a huge wave of tears, relief and applause flowed when he finished speaking. The National Apology to the Stolen Generations occurred as a recommendation from The National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal Children from their Families. It highlighted the suffering of Indigenous families under the Commonwealth, state and territory Aboriginal protection and welfare laws and policies.

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