BBC:
The Australian government has announced it will issue its first formal apology to Aboriginal people when parliament resumes next month.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said the apology would be the first item of business when the new legislature convened on 13 February.
It is aimed at the “Stolen Generations” – Aboriginal children taken from their parents to be raised by white families.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said the apology would be made on behalf of the Australian Government “and does not attribute guilt to the current generation of Australian people”.
Mr Rudd has not revealed the form of words he plans to use, but said it was important to “get this right”.
“It’s building a bridge of respect, which I think has been in some state of disrepair in recent decades,” he said.
One of Australia’s leading proponents of an apology, Christine King, was overwhelmed with emotion.
Ms King, the chairwoman of the Stolen Generations Alliance, said the apology would be fundamental to the healing of her people, and to the country.
“Older people never thought they would live to see this day,” she said, almost breaking down.
“This is a historic moment, not just for Aboriginal people, but for Australia. It’s Australia standing up as a nation and saying ‘we’ve come of age’.”
