Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton apologises to Stolen Generation survivors

Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton taken part in a smoking ceremony as he issued a landmark apology for the force’s role in the Stolen Generation.

Victoria’s top cop Shane Patton has apologised on behalf of Victoria Police for the organisation’s role in the Stolen Generations.

Hundreds of people witnessed Mr Patton issue the apology in an emotional address at the Aboriginal Advancement League in Thornbury on Friday.

“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.”

Shane Patton participates in a smoking ceremony at the Aboriginal Advancement League at Thornbury. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Patton said Victoria Police had contributed to the Stolen Generations directly and through other agencies by enforcing policies and laws.

“Victoria Police was historically one of several agencies with legislative responsibilities for the management and movement of Aboriginal Victorians,” he said.

“From 1864 to 1992 police had the power to remove what were deemed to be neglected children.”

Mr Patton also apologised for poor record keeping within Victoria Police, which made it more difficult for families to reconnect.

The two hour event began with a smoking ceremony, before a number of First Nation’s musical performances and speakers.

The crowd of about 500 cried and laughed throughout the ceremony.

Mr Patton said the police force had contributed to the stolen generation directly and through other agencies. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A crowd of about 500 watched the apology. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Chair of Connecting Home and Stolen Generations survivor Ian Hamm said he didn’t expect the historic day to ever come.

“There’s many reasons why I didn’t think this day would come,” Mr Hamm said.

“Particularly in post referendum Australia, less than a year ago most Australians, indeed most Victorians said we must stay at the bottom.

“It wasn’t a referendum about constitutional change … it was a national survey on what is the place of the Aboriginals in 21st century Australia and two out of every three Australians said ‘at the bottom,’ and I don’t care what lipstick anyone tries to put on the feral pig of no, that’s the truth of it.”

Mr Hamm drew parallels to Kevin Rudd’s 2008 apology on the floor of parliament, a speech he was invited to witness in person, but instead chose to watch it at the AAL building.

Directly after Mr Hamm’s speech, performer Uncle Kutcher Edwards said through tears “I can’t believe how far I’ve fallen in the last 15 minutes,” before showing the crowd pictures of his parents, who he was separated from as a child.

At the commencement of Mr Patton’s speech was gifted to the AAL to be displayed in its front garden.

A copy of it will also be installed at Victoria Police’s training barracks.

Mr Patton last year issued an apology to the Aboriginal community on behalf of Victoria Police at the Yoorook Justice Commission.

The AAL was established in 1957 by a group of Aboriginal people including Sir Doug Nicholls.

Its initial objectives were to achieve citizenship rights for First Nations people and has continued to strive for police advancement for Aboriginals.

In 2008 then PM Kevin Rudd issued an apology to the victims of the stolen generations on behalf of the nation.

Originally published as Victoria Police chief commissioner Shane Patton apologises to Stolen Generation survivors