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Saying Sorry

Saying Sorry. Saying Sorry.

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Saying Sorry

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  1. Saying Sorry

  2. Saying Sorry On Wednesday the 13th of February 2008, the new Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd opened parliament for the year by offering a broad apology to all Aborigines and the Stolen Generations for their "profound grief, suffering and loss" in a carefully worded statement that was greeted by a standing ovation. Thousands of Australians gathered in Canberra and other capital cities to watch the historic apology, which was televised live by all channels and shown at special outdoor settings and in remote indigenous communities.

  3. Saying Sorry • http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xiLnsFyAVqE

  4. Saying Sorry The Prime Minister used the word "sorry" three times in the 360 word statement. (Whitlam, Fraser, Hawke & Keating – Who is missing and why? What does this tell us about the attitude of the time?)

  5. Saying Sorry 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. While the Opposition supported the apology, a number of Liberal MP's chose to boycott the historic session of parliament.

  6. Saying Sorry Pat Dodson (former Chairman of the "Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation“), described the apology as a "seminal moment in the nation's history". He went on to say that 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. 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

  7. Saying Sorry Task:

  8. Saying Sorry Task: Re-read the transcript of Kevin Rudd’s Sorry Speech and watch the video of him giving the speech (section 6 of the VLE) Identify strengths – what does the speech highlight about the past re: Aboriginal Australian rights? Does it suggest how things may improve? Identify limitations – what’s missing? Are any concrete plans/policies suggested? Do some research, what has changed for Indigenous Australians since the apology? What support does the government offer for Aboriginal Australians? What do others say? Supporters of the speech? Critics?

  9. ‘Sorry Speech one year on’ • Access this article from the VLE • Use it to consider the strength and limitations of the Sorry Speech • This is a very useful document – go through it carefully and I suggest include snippets from it on your cheat sheet • Particularly, focus on different perspectives from the people in the article • Do some like the speech? Why • Why do some attack it?

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