Full Text and video of the Prime Minister's Apology to the Stolen Generations

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 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.

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 Australians.

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 failed.

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, Australia.

Video of the main part of the apology:

Brendan Nelson is a Joke

That's all I can say after his mini-outburst yesterday about wanting to be consulted more about the Government's apology to the Stolen Generations.

His statement that he was "the most important person" to be consulted shows what a moron this guy must be. The Australian public bitch-slapped the Liberals out of office in November. They voted the ALP in to right the wrongs of the past 11 years of Liberal dark age. Kevin Rudd is doing what John Howard and the Liberals could never do - say Sorry - now Nelson wants to jump on the bandwagon.

He really should just sit back, shut up and support whatever the Government says on the subject. The Liberal Party of Australia have no credibility on this issue. They blew their chance to be involved in the formulation of the apology by arguing against it for the 11 years they held government.

Reconciliation is now back on track. It's a word hardly uttered since the last Labor Government.

Clarke and Dawe Return for 2008... Yay!!

John Clarke & Bryan Dawe tackle Kevin Rudd's summit

07/02/2008 - John Clarke and Bryan Dawe tackle Kevin Rudd's summit

Video: Real Media (hi) | Real Media (lo) | Windows Media (hi) | Windows Media (lo)

Read the transcript.

GetUp.org's Stolen Generations Fact Sheet

http://www.getup.org.au/files/campaigns/The%20Apology%20Mythbusters.pdf

Download it above. It's aimed at the 35% of Australians who still think it's a bad thing to apologise.

Here's the full page.

Rudd's Brainiac Summit

I don't know why it would be controversial, but Kevin Rudd's decision to hold a summit on creating a vision for Australia 2020 seems to have brought out some of the cynicism that was lacking in certain parts of the community under the previous Howard Government.

I've read and heard opinion such as "it won't achieve anything" and "this just proves that Rudd is a bureaucratic automaton without any vision of his own".

Well, in a democracy, I like the idea of non-politicians setting the agenda and coming up with a vision for the country. It's more democratic to have the public - albeit a select few - actively participate in setting the course for the country to follow. It will be all talked about in public and open for discussion by all.

Under the Howard Governemt, we had a pretty nasty vision thrust upon us and it came from backward thinking and mean-spirited Liberal Party politicians and a shadowy cabal of advisers to the former Prime Minister - not the least, the hypocritical meddling of the secret religious sect, The Exclusive Bretheren. Hypocitical because although their members don't vote, the organisation still felt it had the right to attempt (successfully as it turned out) to influence the Prime Minister himself, and Government policy in general. All the backroom manouvering and deal making done out of the public's gaze.

Now, under a Rudd Labor Government, we see an inclusive group of people who are experts in their field, discussing a way forward for Australia. Co-operative politics we haven't seen in this country since Bob Hawke was Prime Minister.

Australia will be a better place for having the sense last year to end the Liberal "dark-age" and herald a new sunny era in Australia.

DEMOGRAPHIA: Demographics Development Impacts Market Research & Urban Policy

Fascinating site with a comprehensive analysis of urban issues and statistics for the major population centres around the world.

DEMOGRAPHIA: Demographics Development Impacts Market Research & Urban Policy

What city do you belong in?

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?