I'm high on caffeine this morn...

The apology is great but me thinks it should be a total package with some kind of compo. If we can have a Future Fund, Education Fund, James Hardie Asbestos Fund etc, lets have a Stolen Generation Fund.

My 3c (inflation linked)

<(do u mind if i call you gab? i love gabsta, and i'm also a gabby fan, but gab you do and gab you seem!!! hee hee ... i shall stop if asked nicely ... or not. then i shall just dexter you), >

go for it buddy :) no flies on me!

An apology doesn't go far enough.
Compensation is necessary.
The Australian aboriginal people are such a disadvantaged group, that many still live in third world conditions.
Many of these kids were removed from their families, some put in orphanages in an attempt to socialize them into the Aussie 'white' culture. They were forcibly removed for no reason than their color.
Some can argue that the sentiment behind the actions were reasonable at the time, ("we just wanted to help") but it was misguided, anglo-centric, and government mandated racism.

It is a fact that the Australian Constitution originally did not permit indigenous people to be counted in the census (except under the category, 'Flora and Fauna'), thereby effectively denying their right to vote.
In 1967, a referendum was held to allow indigenous Australians to be counted in the census and to allow the Federal Government to make laws for the benefit of indigenous Australians.

1967!

Last week, Tasmania approved a A$5-million compensation fund for 106 Stolen Generation Aborigines taken from their families. State Premier Paul Lennon said no amount could make up for the hurt suffered.

As a child living in a small country town, I remember having aboriginal children come from the nearby orphanage to stay with us during the summer holidays. Being so young I didn't know how or why they stayed with us. I was told that they were orphans and had no parents, so we were able to give them some fun time at the beach with us. We had very happy times together, but I still wonder what impact it must have had in their lives.
My family, as well meaning as they were, played a part in this insidious form of racism.

A recent report revealed the extent of the forced removal, which went on for more than 150 years; its' consequences in terms of broken families, shattered physical and mental health, loss of language, culture and connection to traditional land, and the enormous distress many of its victims still feel today.

No amount of money can bring back what was forcibly taken from them, but it may go a small way to advancing education and health standards in the aboriginal communities. Let's apologize, compensate and move on.

I <3 bogarting my cheap didge...but I only walked around The Center...never over.