This day has taken far too long to arrive but I feel privileged to have the chance to experience it. Truly the proudest moment in our nation’s history. On this day I feel the deepest pride in being Australian. As a citizen of our united country I wholeheartedly endorse the words of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations – this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

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.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australian.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have changed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country.

I’m torn about Mal Brough. On the one hand he seems genuinely concerned about doing good things for indigenous people during his time in the portfolio; on the other hand he seems like such a Howard/ Liberal government stooge. He certainly came across as a goose of the highest order on 7.30 last night and got accordingly demolished by Kerry O’Brien.

Firstly, check out this stunning and arrogant statement by Brough who is seeming to suggest that nobody has ever called for action on these problems before and it’s only John Howard who’s ever noticed them:

Just take you back the period before last when this report came out. Was there outrage? Was there questions in Parliament about when the Government is going to act? Did any of the NGOs who are out there now who are demanding what we are doing is somehow wrong? Were they clamouring for this?

You’re right, Mal. The deafening scream of people and politicians calling for the Government to take action over the first ten years of your Party’s reign was all a figment of our imagination.

Then there’s more of the usual stuff from the non-spending Howard Government:

So this is a holistic approach and will take a massive human effort. Forget about the money for a moment. It’s a human effort.

And finally there’s Kerry O’Brien’s finishing move on the babbling and evasive Brough:

KERRY O’BRIEN: But what is being made very clear by a number of responsible health professionals is that if the issue of sexual abuse is a part of the examination then the professionals have got to be there in the first instance. It has to be done in the right way.

For instance, the concern has been expressed and the question has been asked: “Are children going to be physically examined for signs of sexual abuse?’

MAL BROUGH: Well, Kerry, it’s very interesting how we are having this discussion because, let’s turn it around. Let’s do nothing.

KERRY O’BRIEN: Mr Brough, that’s not…

MAL BROUGH: No, Kerry. No, Kerry.

KERRY O’BRIEN: With all due respect, let me make this point to you, there is broad acceptance of a serious need for action to be taken.

We are now going to the detail of how you are going to responsibly implement a very radical plan that was announced at short notice.

You are still clearly working out the details. I would suggest to you that these questions are both relevant and responsible and deserve to be answered…

BAM! Nothin’ but net.

From The Age:

The abuse crisis gripping Aboriginal communities is akin to the disaster inflicted on the US by Hurricane Katrina, Prime Minister John Howard said tonight.

Golly Moses! Howard’s right! This is like Katrina - the government is sitting around doing nothing. But hang on, he says, it’s not his fault:

The crisis in Aboriginal communities was not just a failure of government, he said, but a failure of parents to take responsibility.

Responsibility for…..? He doesn’t say. He also blames the state governments:

For too long state governments had neglected their responsibilities of enforcing law and order, Mr Howard said

Hey! Stop complaining everyone. John Howard was being a good guy. He doesn’t like to impose on the states. That’s why he sat and twiddled his thumbs for 11 years, and then expressed surprise that not only does this country have indigenous people, but indigenous people who live in third world conditions. I mean, how dare the states keep that secret from him!

Now I’m not going to sit her in my chair and suggest answers. I don’t have any, and neither do you. But John Howard’s plan, like the troop surge and war on drugs, is doomed to fail.

Doomed!