Anniversary of the Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples

Saturday, 13 February marked the thirteenth anniversary of the National Apology.

In honour of the anniversary, Prime Minister Scott Morrison MP yesterday (15th) delivered a speech to the House of Representatives.

Following the Prime Minister’s speech, Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP, and son of a Stolen Generations survivor, also spoke.

Both reminded those present, including members of the Stolen Generations, of that singular day 13 years earlier.

In 2008, then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised on behalf of the Australian Government to the Stolen Generations – the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families and communities by successive colonial and Australian governments.

Delivered in a televised statement to both Houses of Parliament and to members of the Stolen Generations present, the apology acknowledged the harm done to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In this landmark speech, the Government called on all Australians to reflect on the past actions that form an important part of our history.

The apology included a resolve to embrace new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches had failed, and a future based on mutual respect and mutual responsibility. 

More information

The speech from 2008 can be found at Apology to Australia's Indigenous peoples.

Read the Prime Minister’s speech at Statement on the Anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.

Minister Wyatt’s speech can be found at Anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.

You can also read the Minister’s opinion article at A long way from the Stolen Generations but still further to go.