Jacinta Allan apologises to Victoria’s stolen generation
Jacinta Allan has made a historic formal apology to the state’s stolen generation at a private gathering of Indigenous Victorians.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Jacinta Allan has made an historic formal apology to Victoria’s stolen generation.
Ms Allan made the apology on behalf of the Victorian government on Thursday at a private gathering at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association.
Media were not invited to the event which was not announced in advance.
Instead, Ms Allan later announced the apology on social media.
“Members of the Stolen Generations have never received an apology in person from the Victorian Government. Until today,” she said.
“On behalf of successive Victorian governments and parliaments, I apologised to those children who were forcibly removed from their families.
“To the babies and children who grew up without knowing who they were.
“And the mums and dads who were left — sometimes for a lifetime, searching.”
The apology — the first of its kind to Indigenous Victorians on behalf of the Victorian government — followed recommendations from the Stolen Generations Reparations Steering Committee Report.
The event also included cultural and healing programs, as well as counselling and trauma support to assist attendees throughout the day.
Its low key delivery stood in stark contrast to last year’s apology to Victorians abused in state care.
Hundreds of people were invited to parliament house to witness the apology, which was also broadcast live on the parliament’s website.
Dozens of survivors watched on from the public gallery, while hundreds of others gathered in the nearby Queens Hall to watch a live stream of the apology.
A motion supporting the apology was then passed unanimously following speeches by Opposition Leader John Pesutto and former Greens leader Samantha Ratnam.
Last year Victoria Police chief commissioner, Shane Patton, apologised on behalf of the organisation’s role in the stolen generation.
“As chief commissioner, and on behalf of Victoria Police, I am here with you today to formally and unreservedly apologise to survivors of the Stolen Generations and their families for the role of Victoria Police that we played in the forcible removal of Aboriginal children from their families, culture and country,” Mr Patton said.
“I am sorry for the profound distress caused and the trauma experienced by so many Aboriginal families.
“I also acknowledge the impact on the children that were removed and generations that come after.”
In 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd offered the first formal apology of its kind to Australia’s Indigenous peoples, particularly the Stolen Generations.
Originally published as Jacinta Allan apologises to Victoria’s stolen generation
Uproar as team member naps, leaving partner in the lurch
One controversial contestant finds stamina when there’s a party, but takes to her bed when there’s hard work to be done, leaving her husband defeated and near breaking point.
Holy smoke! Southbank set to become ad screen central
Crown plans to modify its fireball breathing Southbank pylons to also feature large LED advertising screens, with sound and vision running day and night, spruiking city events and celebrations.