What do you think of the apology today by kevin Rudd.?

Question

And do you think there will be a flood of sorry money compo claims? Michael Mansell in Tasmania says the Australian gov. should pay the victims, but will that change anything or will it annoy mainstream Australia and undo any good the apology may have done?

Answer 1

I think that it was a much needed apology and that it was well said by Kevin Rudd. The issue of compensation is something that won't go away, the money is not going to compensate these people for the damage that has been done to them. I think that from this apology we should move on from the issue. You can't change the past but you can learn from it...

Answer 2

As an Aboriginal person I was swelling with Pride!



Tasmania has already agreed to some form of compensation and recent wins in the courts for some members of the stolen generation only confirm the possibilities of more. But hey, a lot of people of those generations had legitimate wages held in trust for them by various authorities, which most never recieved. If whitemans law recognising legitimate claims of compensation, why not?



"Mainstream" australians tend to have selective views of history and are seriously uncomfortable with facts being stuck under their noses.



Wouldn't it be nice to think that those who got ripped off the most would have some little win to see out their last years?



Non-Aboriginal Australians of the racist persuasion tend to attack Aboriginal morals, culture, society, language, history as some sort of sub-human curiosity and find unsustantiated 'facts' to build their arguments on. As when Mabo started to make the news, it is beaten up to the extent that sheeple believed the hatemongers when they said YOUR HOUSE IS NEXT!!!!



Never mind that it didn't happen!



Have a quick read around various sites and blogs etc..the rabid responses have only picked up and except for some monitored sights (like this) you can't see the woods for the racists. I don't think compensation needed to add fuel to the fire (with the burning cross in the middle), the race hate was burning strong in this country for a long long time.

Answer 3

It takes a great man like Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD to officially apologize to Australia's natives - the apology is a recognition of the wrong committed by previous generation. If I were an Australian, I'd be very proud to have such a leader - a man for all seasons. Best wishes to the inspiring PM and the good people of Australia. Advance Australia Fair!

Answer 4

I was a bit so, so about it until I watched the 'Who Do ou Think You Are' Program about Cathy Freeman on SBS. I had no idea that so recently as the 60's the various Governments were telling people if they could or couldn't simply visit their families for Christmas etc. and that the various Govt.s decided whether the wives of current servicemen could have access to their ptrs wages and how much they would be doled out.



It's not just about the 'stolen generation' but so very much more. Perhaps too much emphasis is given to the children taken away for whatever reasons. We need to also look at the indignities served on indigenous peoples over years not so long ago.

Answer 5

I think the apology today was brilliant! It means so much to so many people and is a big step in the healing process for them.

I'm also glad Kevin Rudd did it and not John Howard because I think it was a sincere apology from Kevin and Johnny would have done it for all the wrong reasons.

I'm actually not that concerned about compo claims as I think all the worry about that is detracting from the fantastic significance of this day.

Answer 6

I think the apology was WAY over due!

Kev done an AWESOME job.



I think any money should go to the Aboriginal community as a whole, for education and health which is what the Rudd gov is gonna do :-)

Answer 7

It was heartwarming and however little it meant to white Australians, a lot of Aborigines obviously really appreciated it so it must have been worthwhile just from that point of view.



Now I hope it flows on into real and effective action to get rural Aborigines in particular out of their vicious cycle of deprivation and alcohol abuse.



As far as compensation goes, as I understood it, the government consulted its lawyers to make sure no claims would succeed.

Answer 8

I thought Kevin Rudd was brilliant and all was going well till Brendan Nelson opened his mouth.

I cringed the whole way through Nelsons.



No,I don't think they should be compensated.

The government has given them enough and they don't appreciate anything and take advantage at what's been given to them.

Answer 9

Sorry is too common i believe but from a person like Kevin Rudd it will be accepted

Answer 10

Today is a day to go down in histroy thats for sure. I think its great that he kept his election promise. And in my honest opion I think there will only be a very small percentage of Aboriginies seeking compensation, but it is inevitable someone will try.

Answer 11

I think it is a good thing that it has been said. But if there is not real change in laws and programmes then the whole thing will be all gas and wind.



I was thinking about the whole compensation thing. and i thought that instead of a cash settlement, perhaps there could be a payment and tax break into individuals super.