Prime minister will say it was his proudest day in politics. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcasMore on the PM’s upcoming speech today:
Rudd’s apology on 13 February 2008 “could not have happened without your courage.” Albanese will tell survivors.
“Nor would we have had the annual report card that is Closing the Gap. Yet like the Freedom Ride, it was the target of controversy and hostile opposition. The power of hindsight only serves to render that opposition even more baffling,” he will say.
The prime minister’s remarks do not mention opposition leader Peter Dutton by name, but Albanese and Labor have regularly criticised him for his decision to walk out of the apology in parliament in 2008.
“Those, like John Howard, who argued it would divide were wrong. Australians were united in a moment of fundamental decency,” Albanese will say of the apology.
He will also announce the federal government will extend the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme to 30 June 2028 – which he said “means we will be able to continue to accept applications from Stolen Generations survivors for an additional 18 months, bringing it more into line with state redress schemes in place.”Prime minister Anthony Albanese will this morning praise survivors of the stolen generations in a speech at an anniversary event in Canberra.
Albanese will tell the breakfast at Parliament House, marking 17 years since Kevin Rudd’s apology to Indigenous people removed from their families, that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must “have the same choices as non-Indigenous Australians”.
“An Australia in which the government works carefully with you towards a future in which Indigenous Australians have the economic security of a job and a home,” Albanese will say, according to an advance copy of his remarks.
“What guides my government every day is the instinct to ensure all Australians get the same chance in life. To work towards the reality in which all Australians have power over their destiny. And this all began when you – and all survivors – through patience, persistence and grace at last found your nation was ready to hear your hard truths.”
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Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/feb/13/australia-politics-live-anthony-albanese-indigenous-apology-sorry-peter-dutton-right-to-disconnect-question-time-ntwnfb
Author : Martin Farrer
Publish date : 2025-02-12 19:51:50
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