Leaders surprise with a rare warmth

YESTERDAY was a good day in our national public life. When our political discourse is often characterised by its banality, politicians lack courage and imagination and bipartisanship is as elusive as ever, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott showed there can be another way.

On the fifth anniversary of the apology to the Stolen Generations, both leaders spoke in support of a bill that recognises the contribution of indigenous Australians to the nation.

The bill also puts in place a process to formulate an appropriate form of constitutional recognition before submitting a referendum proposal to voters.

Gillard made a compelling argument for recognition and included an acknowledgment that Kevin Rudd's apology speech was a necessary step towards reconciliation and constitutional recognition.

Abbott spoke from handwritten notes with a warmth and generosity rarely seen in his speeches. He said Gillard had given a "fine speech", and praised Gough Whitlam and Rudd. He even lauded Paul Keating's controversial Redfern speech on reconciliation. And remarkably, he spoke of the "stain on our soul" caused by the treatment of indigenous Australians.

"We have never made peace with the first Australians," he said -- astonishing words that would never have been uttered by John Howard.