Getting very close to this speech now, wondering what people's thoughts are... I've actually been suprised by the venom and bitterness displayed by people I thought I knew, who i thought were rational people...

For mine, I hope this is the start of something positive and we don't just say the word and forget...

I agree. It's time that an apology was made and a more positive future was worked toward.

eh?

you might want to say what you're referring to.

God, Rabbit Proof Fence was such a sad but important movie.

Let us Yanks know how this goes down.

I wish there was a smiley that signalled total bewilderment.

Obviously, a generation of Australians was stolen by rabbits.

"The coney aite moy baiby!"

rabbits have fucked australia's landscape for good. smart brits.

Wow. That's pretty fucking horrible.

Yeah. Shit, I thought our "Indian schools" were bad.

i'm surprised more people haven't heard of this.

Also, I imagine that the demands of Reconciliation were broader than just this. Any word on how broad Rudd's willing to take it?

this has been a long time coming. the idea of apologising was floated ten years ago, under our previous government, and john howard the bigoted bastard refused to say sorry. it took a change in government to get us to this point, so don't fuck it up kevvy.

the aborigines should build a trojan horse and give it to parliament

I work in closely with one of the Stolen Generation organisations. This is an exciting time and an apology is long overdue.

I wonder if, given a formal apology is to be given, will a formal acceptance of that apology be given also?

People have historically been very afraid of an apology on the basis of compensation. This is a stupid point. We simply can't go forward without going through this healing process, people have had so much taken from them.

They should let the Aborigines open casinos.

I really look forward to shadey's response to this. For those who don't know, he works as a solicitor for the Aboriginal Legal Service in Woop Woop. Woop Woop is like Aussie speak for, um, Bumfuck Egypt.

I'm pretty annoyed that tomorrow I'll most likely be on the road driving to an appointment when this happens at 9am. It's surely the most significant gesture of the Australian parliament since our federation 107 years ago. The 1967 referendum to start counting Aboriginal people in the census. This morning's ceremonial opening session to the new government. About that...

This 'Welcome To Country' ceremony... I reckon we're criminally overlooking just how momentous this is amongst all the talk about the Apology. For all the damage white Australia has done to the Aboriginal peoples across this land, for the Aboriginal custodians to be able to set this up to break in the new government of Australia. The symbolism of that ceremony is truly immense.

For the first time since I've taken an interest in Australian politics, I'm feeling genuinely optimistic. Geez, I'm even feeling proud. When the Arsecuntfuckcocksuckerdickhead lost last November, I celebrated more for his loss than the other guy winning. I'd been skeptical of the guy, but he's managed to achieve in 3 months what I'd longed for for 12 years- signing Kyoto and saying Sorry. Fuck, I'm even tempted to raise the Australian flag on a stick in the front yard.

I vote we get rid of the holiday status of 26th January, and have 13th February as a new national holiday.

Mr Rudd has just tabled the words he will use, the text of which reads:

"Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations – this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia."

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0 ... 48,00.html

I really think this is fucked.

I love your sentiments and agree wholeheartedly with your post, but if anyone tries to take away my Australia day then they are looking for a kick in the nuts.

Hell, we could always do with another long weekend, make it another public holiday if you like, but leave the 26th January the fuck alone.