Motion not enough: Beazley
Source: SMH | Published: Thursday August 26 1:22:50 PM
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley today said Prime Minister John Howard did
not go far enough with his expression of
deep and sincere regret to indigenous Australians.
Mr Beazley moved a number of amendments to Mr Howard's motion to ensure
it contained an unreserved apology
and reference to adequate compensation.
His amendment calls for the motion to: "unreservedly apologise to
indigenous Australians for the injustice they have
suffered and for the hurt and trauma that many indigenous people
continue to suffer as a consequence of that
injustice."
Mr Beazley said the stolen generation was not a matter of historical
record, but contemporary history which extended
well into the 1970s and the lives of many current politicians.
He criticised Mr Howard for forcing Australia's indigenous people to
assume responsibility for the wording of the
prime minister's motion.
"It is unfair to make them the arbitrators of our apology," he told
parliament.
"That is our job. That is the job of every person in this house. It is
unfair to compromise them in relation to other
members of the Aboriginal community for whom this will not be
satisfactory."
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