Suburban Scrawl

"For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and fathers, the brothers and sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry."
- Apology to Indigenous Australians, to be spoken in Parliament 13 February 2008.

Tomorrow, the Rudd Labor Government will be making a formal apology to Indigenous Australians in respect to the stolen generations. This symbolic action is intended to establish a relationship of mutual respect between Australia's Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. It is to be a basis from which a united Australia can work together on our collective challenges.

I believe that the apology to Indigenous Australians is the correct action. From the removal of Indigenous Australians from their land to the race specific stolen generation policies, the treatment of Indigenous Australians here has been dreadful. The stolen generation era policies devastated the intricate social and family structures of Indigenous communities. The pain and suffering unnecessary inflicted on Indigenous Australians haunts the present.

I lean against financial compensation for the stolen generations. I believe that substantial investment in decent services would yield better results. Remote communities face ongoing challenges in the provision of health, education, child safety, police and other government services. At this moment in time, I perceive improvements to these services as more beneficial than upfront compensation.

While strongly supportive of the apology, I admit that I am politically nervous. I think that if there was a ballot, people would vote against the apology in the Beenleigh area. However, I do believe that, with a little information, most people would support the apology. Three common misunderstandings are all that stand in the way:

(1) A lot of people believe that the Rudd Government is apologising on behalf of individuals, therefore placing guilt and shame on individuals. I started off with concerns along these lines myself a number of years ago. However, the apology is about the current government apologising for the policies of previous governments. It is about acknowledging the past to embrace the future.

(2) A number of people believe that the treatment of Indigenous Australians was no different to non-Indigenous Australians at the time. This is not correct. Briefly, Indigenous Australians were regarded as a dieing race, and policies were put in place to effectively destroy the remaining culture via "merging" and other abhorrent concepts. I recommend perusing the "Bringing Them Home" report for more information on this sad part of our history.

(3) A few people believe that Indigenous Australians were all removed from their parents due to neglect or abuse. While some children were fairly removed for welfare reasons, most were removed for the ideological reasons previously noted. Again, the "Bringing Them Home" report is the best place to go for a full understanding.

The apology to Indigenous Australians has brought the uglier side of Australia out into the open. A chain e-mail has ripped through the country with the title of "Australian Apology to the Aboriginal Population." The e-mail features grand cultural ignorance, stereotypes and outright lies to present Indigenous Australians as being drunk, violent cannibals who had an incredible stroke of luck to be invaded by Europeans.

I am convinced that the disrespect and mockery of Indigenous Australians occurring in some quarters would not be accepted if directed at any other race. Even in this day and age, it appears that many people would treat their dog better than an Indigenous Australian. We still have a long way to go before people are judged on their actions rather than the colour of their skin.

The way I see it, most Indigenous people merely want what most people want. Most Indigenous Australians seek respect, understanding, dialog and a touch of kindness. It is a barrier to progress when a certain proportion of your co-workers, customers and people on the street judge you on the colour of your skin. We deal with people, not races.

The symbolic apology must be supported by practical improvements in services, which has already started was a $261 million investment in improving the health and early development of Indigenous children. I also believe that the Indigenous Intervention in the Northern Territory should be re-evaluated to focus on results rather than cynical politics.

# posted by Stuart Anthony Fenech : 21:30