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KEVIN Rudd has today offered a broad apology to all Aborigines and the Stolen Generations for their "profound grief, suffering and loss" in a carefully worded statement that has divided indigenous leaders.

The Prime Minister , who entered the parliament to a standing ovation, used the word "sorry" three times in the 360 word statement read to parliament this morning.

Thousands of Aboriginal Australians gathered in Canberra to watch the historic apology, which was televised around the nation and shown at special outdoor settings in remote indigenous communities.

Many of those watching had personal experience of the forcible removal of Aboriginal people, and there were emotional scenes as the apology was delivered.

Addressing the parliament, Mr Rudd said there came a time in history when people had to reconcile the past with their future.

"Our nation Australia has reached such a time and that is why the parliament is today here assembled,`` he said.

"To deal with this unfinished business of the nation.

"To remove a great stain from the nation`s soul and in the true spirit of reconciliation to open a new chapter in the history of this great land Australia.``

`We apologise`

"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," the apology read.

"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 the fathers, the brothers and the 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."

Pain is searing

Mr Rudd told the story of an elderly indigenous woman, part of the stolen generations, who he visited a few days ago. Her family tried to hide her from the "welfare men" by digging holes in the ground. But she was found and removed from her crying mother at the age of four.

"There is something terribly primal about these first-hand accounts, the pain is searing, it screams from the pages, the hurt the humiliation, the degradation and the sheer brutality of the act of physically separating a mother from her children is a deep assault on our senses and on our most elemental humanity,`` he said.

Mr Rudd said the stories "cry out`` to be heard and "cry out`` for an apology.

Time for action

The apology also looked forward, heralding a renewed and united effort to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians in "life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity".

Mr Rudd pledged action as well as words, calling for the equivalent a war cabinet to tackled indigenous issues.

"I therefore propose a joint policy commission to be led by the Leader of the Opposition and myself," he said.

The Prime Minister said the commission would first develop and implement an effective housing strategy for remote communities during the next five years.

If that was successful the commission would then work on the constitutional recognition of first Australians.

Protesters turn backs on Nelson

In contrast to Rudd`s standing ovation, Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson`s speech in support of the apology was met by protests.

As Dr Nelson began speaking some people turned their backs on the large screen on which the speech was being televised.

They began clapping and yelling "shame", and some started to walk out. 

Dr Nelson called on Australians to focus on the contemporary problems of their indigenous counterparts.

"Spare a thought for the real, immediate, seemingly intractable and disgraceful circumstances in which many indigenous Australians find themselves today," he said.

Mixed reaction

The father of reconciliation, Pat Dodson, described the apology as a "seminal moment in the nation`s history".

Mr Dodson said the apology was a courageous statement after a decade of denial by the government of John Howard and went "beyond what I thought they might say".

But Stolen Generations member John Moriarty criticised the Government for failing to go far enough.

"It doesn`t tell what the Stolen Generation really is," he said.

"I`m questioning the cultural genocide aspect. I think it`s an appeasement in the sense that it`s saying sorry, but it doesn`t get down to the real crux of the issue, in my view, that people like me were taken away from their full-blooded mothers to breed out the culture. It doesn`t come to that. It doesn`t hit home with me."

Some indigenous leaders feared the apology would mean an end to claims for compensation for Aboriginal children removed from their homes under previous government policies.

Others argued that Mr Rudd had left the door open to payments for past injustices.

With the Australian / AAP

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Today`s Top Picks

Underbelly TV anger

FAMILY groups are up in arms about graphic scenes of violence and sex in Nine`s new crime drama Underbelly.

• Turmoil: Aussie troops fly into East Timor anarchy
• Parliament: Traditional welcome starts session
• Guilty: Traffic cop sought sex favours from P-plater

Search for more stories on this topic on Newstext, our news archive service. Click here

Also in News

• Tokyo: Rotting whale meat mountain
• Private: New photos `suggest Kovco shot himself`
• Cash in: Home battlers hand CBA record profit
• Cut off: Pirate downloaders to lose net access
• Provocative: Sexy T-shirts encourage rape - MP
• Mug shot: Paris Hilton`s brother arrested for DUI
• Recycling: `Kramer fears` over 10c bottle cash-back
• Gatecrashers: Tony Abbott gets a dose of the Coreys

Video

Watch this Video NOW!

The blind adventurer

He has climbed Everest, the Seven Summits, and raised millions, without seeing any of it.

Latest videos

• Interest rates explained
• Walk on the wild side
• The stolen generation
• Cousins fronts the media

More Video

Blogroll

Splat!

Do you have fond memories of ex-lovers or do you still loathe them?

• Blogocracy: Improving parliamentary behaviour
• Ask Bossy: My wife thinks she`s a lesbian
• Squanderlust: Budget meals to keep costs down
• Jack Marx Live: If pokies go, it`s our loss
• Movie Mash: It`s the end of the world and we love it
• Tech: What`s the big Yahoogle about Microhoo?
• Fully Chic: Latest fashion trends from New York

Advertisement

Love & Relationships - Find a date near you on Match.com - # 1 Online Dating site Worldwide.

 

What`s On in New Zealand. Visit the Pacific Coast & Thermal Explorer Highways.

 

Virgin Mobile Cheap calls & text across Australia.

 

Low Fee and $50 credit Get a Credit Card with a credit bonus.

 

Kodak All-in-One Printers Save up to 50% on everything you print! Black ink only $14.99 RRP.

 

Get a higher return Earn a high 7.88% p.a.^ on a 3 month Term Deposit with HSBCPremier.

 

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