Children’s Ground chair William Tilmouth says ‘brutal status quo’ in place 17 years after apology

A stolen generations survivor is calling on ‘both sides of politics’ to tackle a ‘brutal status quo’ which has dominated since a historic apology was issued.

Children’s Ground chair William Tilmouth in Alice Springs, with his grandson Kenny on the left and granddaughter Anthea on the right. Picture: Grenville Turner

A “brutal status quo” has been in place by “both sides of politics” since a momentous apology was issued seventeen years ago, one member of the stolen generation says.

Thursday, February 13, marked 17 years since former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered an apology to the survivors of the stolen generation.

But Children’s Ground chair William Tilmouth – an Arrernte Elder who was taken to Croker Island as child – says “the situation for First Nations children remains dire”.

Arrernte Elder and Co-Founder of Children's Ground, William Tilmouth. Picture: Damon Van Der Schuit

“The Australian Government expressed remorse for the harrowing reality our people faced through the Stolen Generations,” he said.

“But remorse is not enough. Political leaders must do more.

“Successive governments on both sides of politics have failed to act and instead nurture a brutal status quo.”

Mr Tilmouth’s comments come after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used his Closing the Gap speech in parliament to tell the country only five of the 19 targets are on track to be met.

“The system is failing our children, our families and our communities. After 17 years of Government ‘solutions’, only five of 19 targets on track to be reached by 2031. Rates of out-of-home care, suicide and incarceration, among many others, are worsening,” Mr Tilmouth said.

Gwoja MLA Chansey Paech. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Data from the productivity commission shows five closing the gap targets are on track for completion by 2031: babies being born healthy; children enrolling in preschool; getting 25-64-year-olds employed; and land and water rights.

Labor Gwoja MLA Chansey Paech said the apology was a “powerful and heartfelt recognition of the immense pain and trauma experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families”.