Minister for Indigenous Australians
Thank you Dr Caroline Hughes for your warm Welcome.
I too acknowledge Country and pay respects to the traditional owners.
It's so important that we continue to observe these cultural protocols.
Thank you to David Williams for your performance
To Michael McLeod, who've I've known for many years, and the Message Stick Foundation -
Thank you for hosting this annual National Apology Breakfast
It's such a significant event
And a reminder that we must pause and reflect -
On one the saddest and most shameful chapters in our nation's history.
And that we acknowledge the incredible resilience and strength of survivors and their families who are here today
A very warm welcome to you
I also acknowledge
- The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
- The Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles,
- Professor Tom Calma AO
- Jody Broun, CEO National Indigenous Australians Agency
- Shannan Dodson, CEO The Healing Foundation - thank you for all the work you do to support survivors and their families
I want to take a moment to reflect on the loss of Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue - who has rightly been described as our greatest leader
Our grand lady.
She played such an instrumental role 16 years ago
In that historic moment, when then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered a formal Apology to the Stolen Generations.
I remember it like it was yesterday
Members of the Stolen Generations and their families made the long trek to Canberra to finally hear that one simple word - sorry.
It was long overdue, and profound
I remember Aunty May Robinson who carried a photograph of her mother as an eight-year-old girl with her.
Crying in the foyer just there - she said, 'Linda, I brought Mummy with me today.'
PAUSE
I've often said that the apology was a moment that allowed the country to exhale.
It was about the true history of our nation
It was about healing and moving us forward together
The Commonwealth will continue to support Stolen Generations and their families in their healing.
I pay tribute to the former Minister Ken Wyatt for his efforts in setting up the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme
So far more than 1,400 survivors have applied to redress -
For the pain and trauma of being taken away from families, communities and Country.
The National Apology brought us Closing the Gap
And today we will hand down our latest report
It will include some new initiatives that we hope will make a real difference to lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
We know there is so much work to do
But we are committed to working with First Nations people
Closing
Finally, I want to again acknowledge members of the Stolen Generations here today.
Your strength
Your survival
Your resilience
Our nation needs to hear your stories
Because it's part of the story of our country
It is not ancient history
And as a government - we will continue to listen to you
We must use this anniversary to educate Australians about the truth
We will continue to support you
and work towards a better future
Thank you
