Published Monday, 11 February, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Premier urges Queenslanders to support Sorry Day
Premier Anna Bligh today encouraged Queenslanders to support the Prime Minister’s apology to the Stolen Generation, which will be made on Wednesday, 13 February.
Ms Bligh said Queensland was among the first states to move towards an apology for the injustice of past government policies.
“On 3 June 1997, Peter Beattie as Leader of the Opposition first moved for a full apology by the Queensland Parliament.
“The then-Coalition government used its numbers to amend the motion with the words “sincere regret”, replacing an outright apology.
“However, following a change of government - on 26 May 1999 the Queensland Parliament agreed to a full apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for the past policies under which Indigenous children were forcibly separated from their families.
“This was an incredibly important step in the reconciliation process in Queensland and Wednesday’s national apology is one that is long overdue.
“It is an opportunity for all Australians - Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians - to turn a new page in reconciliation.
“While the national apology won’t fix the problems experienced by Indigenous people overnight, it is an important beginning.
“It offers us a new opportunity to take our thinking in this area forward.
“To achieve genuine reconciliation there has to be some acceptance that things have gone wrong in the past, and that’s what Wednesday’s apology is about,” she said.
A breakfast reception for more than 100 Indigenous leaders and members of the Stolen Generation will be held at Queensland’s Parliament House on Wednesday morning - hosted by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mike Reynolds – and the Premier will make a statement to Parliament in response to the national apology.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags will be raised at Parliament House, the Executive Building (Brisbane), Mineral House (Brisbane), Roma Street Parkland, the Townsville State Government Building and Cairns Court House.
The ABC will offer extended coverage of the apology (7.55am Qld-time) live on ABC1, via live stream online at www.abc.net.au and live on ABC Radio.
Monday, 11 February 2008
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office)
Ms Bligh said Queensland was among the first states to move towards an apology for the injustice of past government policies.
“On 3 June 1997, Peter Beattie as Leader of the Opposition first moved for a full apology by the Queensland Parliament.
“The then-Coalition government used its numbers to amend the motion with the words “sincere regret”, replacing an outright apology.
“However, following a change of government - on 26 May 1999 the Queensland Parliament agreed to a full apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for the past policies under which Indigenous children were forcibly separated from their families.
“This was an incredibly important step in the reconciliation process in Queensland and Wednesday’s national apology is one that is long overdue.
“It is an opportunity for all Australians - Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians - to turn a new page in reconciliation.
“While the national apology won’t fix the problems experienced by Indigenous people overnight, it is an important beginning.
“It offers us a new opportunity to take our thinking in this area forward.
“To achieve genuine reconciliation there has to be some acceptance that things have gone wrong in the past, and that’s what Wednesday’s apology is about,” she said.
A breakfast reception for more than 100 Indigenous leaders and members of the Stolen Generation will be held at Queensland’s Parliament House on Wednesday morning - hosted by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mike Reynolds – and the Premier will make a statement to Parliament in response to the national apology.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags will be raised at Parliament House, the Executive Building (Brisbane), Mineral House (Brisbane), Roma Street Parkland, the Townsville State Government Building and Cairns Court House.
The ABC will offer extended coverage of the apology (7.55am Qld-time) live on ABC1, via live stream online at www.abc.net.au and live on ABC Radio.
Monday, 11 February 2008
Media: 3224 4500 (Premier’s office)